US Confirms It Has Deployed First-Ever 'On-Orbit' Weapon In Space
The US Space Force has officially acknowledged the deployment of offensive 'on-orbit' weapons designed to protect American assets from hostile threats. This admission marks a shift in military transparency regarding space-based capabilities amid rising geopolitical tensions with Russia and China.
Why it matters
This development signals a new phase in the militarization of space, potentially challenging the spirit of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and escalating the global arms race in orbit.
The United States has weapons deployed in space, the US Space Force said in the first-ever acknowledgement of possessing such offensive capabilities. US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the "on-orbit" weapon was necessary to safeguard American forces against hostile enemies, in a not-so-subtle warning to China and Russia.Meink, who made the announcement at the annual Air, Space, and Cyber Conference at National Harbour in Maryland, did not specify what type of US weapon is in space.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in