The U.S. military has officially recognized the deployment of space-based weapons in Earth’s orbit for the first time.
During a recent address, U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, who oversees both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force, stated that the military now possesses “on-orbit space control weapons aimed at defending the Joint Force against threats from hostile entities.”
While Meink did not disclose specifics regarding the nature, functionality, or quantity of these weapons, his wording was said to be deliberate and carefully chosen.
An Air Force spokesperson later elaborated that these weapons are intended to protect U.S. military operations “against attacks facilitated by space capabilities.”
Inquiries regarding the specific threats prompting the deployment were met with reminders that the U.S. has been alerting the public about Russian and Chinese weapons testing in space since 2007.
“Given their actions, it has become evident that space is a domain of warfare. Space control is integral to how the Joint Force safeguards national security,” the spokesperson explained. “The space domain is indeed competitive, necessitating the safeguarding of national interests, which is the reason behind the establishment of the Space Force as the sixth military branch.”
Additionally, the spokesperson stated, “Transparent communication enhances deterrence, mitigates the risk of errors by adversaries, and normalizes space operations alongside other military services.”
This announcement coincides with reports that China has long been known to operate spacecraft capable of damaging other satellites. Meanwhile, the U.S. Space Force claims that Russia is developing a satellite intended to carry a nuclear weapon.
Historically, the U.S. had distanced itself from the notion of destroying satellites in space, acknowledging that such attacks could generate debris harmful to other space objects and astronauts.
