The United States has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed a weapon in Earth’s orbit, acknowledging its offensive space capabilities amid growing concerns over military activities beyond the atmosphere.
US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said the weapon had been deployed “on orbit” to protect American forces from potential attacks by hostile adversaries.
Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Monday, Meink said the US was prepared to respond to “evolving threats”, but declined to disclose details about the weapon’s capabilities or reveal when it was placed in orbit.
The development comes as senior US military officials push for expanded space capabilities, pointing to programmes being developed by Russia and China to attack or disrupt American satellites during a potential future conflict.
The administration of President Donald Trump has also identified space-based capabilities and interceptor missiles as important components of its proposed “Golden Dome” defence system, which is designed to protect the United States from missiles and other airborne threats.
A 1967 international treaty prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit.
However, major powers including the US, Russia and China have continued developing other military capabilities in space, including systems capable of targeting satellites used for communication, surveillance and navigation.
The US Space Force, established in 2019 as the first new branch of the American military in more than seven decades, has been tasked with protecting US assets in space.
Its spokesperson said, “Space control encapsulates the mission areas required to contest and control the space domain – employing kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities through disruption, degradation and even destruction, if necessary.
“These capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.”
The disclosure comes amid increasing concerns about military competition in space.
The US has accused Russia of developing satellites that could potentially attack other spacecraft, while the US Space Force says China is developing and operating space and counterspace capabilities as part of its military modernisation efforts.
