In the first, the US Secretary of the Air Force reveals that Washington has weapons in space; face challenges from opponents | Today’s news
The United States has deployed weapons in space and plans to use them to defend American forces when needed, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said Monday (local time), marking the first public acknowledgment of such capabilities in orbit.
The statement appears to be intended to send a message to potential adversaries operating in the domain, CNN reported.
His revelation comes at a time of growing concern that the US is running out of ammunition following the ongoing war with Iran, as Washington also seeks to ensure it has sufficient stockpiles of weapons for potential future conflicts.
Read also | Russia and China challenge the US with a proposal to ban space weapons
What did the US Secretary of the Air Force say about weapons deployed in space?
The Air Force secretary made the remarks at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, an annual meeting hosted by the Air Force and Space Forces Association in National Harbor, Maryland. Meink noted, “Today, we continue to ensure that we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats, wherever they may be.” He added: “This is why the United States now has space control weapons in orbit capable of defending joint forces against hostile action.”
Meink went on to elaborate, “It’s critical that we maintain our dominance not only in the air but also in space, so we’ve had to take steps to make sure that when we’re threatened, we can take care of it.”
However, the Air Force Secretary did not specify when these weapons were deployed in space or give any other details about them. He also noted that the interceptor space program has rapidly gone from “initial contract to flight-ready hardware in less than one year.”
Meink’s remarks also highlight the growing role of the US Space Force as Washington seeks to bolster its capabilities in the increasingly contested space domain.
Read also | America’s space forces are preparing for the risk of war
Why do space forces deploy weapons in space?
The U.S. Space Force, established in 2019 by President Donald Trump as part of the Air Force, has been hailed as a milestone in boosting the country’s defense capabilities amid an advancing arms race in which China and Russia have challenged U.S. dominance.
According to its website, “China is developing and operating space and anti-space capabilities as part of its military modernization strategy.” He further states: “Russia views space as a war-fighting domain and believes that space dominance will be a decisive factor in future conflicts.
Washington’s move to put weapons into space comes amid repeated warnings from US military officials about the growing space capabilities of China and Russia. The officials pointed to exercises of a Russian constellation of satellites that Washington said could demonstrate “attack and defense tactics” for potential future conflicts, as well as China’s development of a hypersonic nuclear-capable partial-orbit missile.
A 2024 CNN report, citing US intelligence, said Moscow was advancing efforts to develop a space-based nuclear weapon that could generate a powerful electromagnetic pulse that could potentially disable a wide range of commercial and government satellites. Moscow has denied the allegations.
Read also | US lawmakers are pushing to revise the space treaty amid competition from India and China
Can countries deploy weapons in space? Here’s what you need to know
According to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the deployment of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in outer space is prohibited. However, the treaty does not ban conventional weapons or ground-based weapons targeting assets in space, leaving room for interpretation.
With the US now publicly admitting to having weapons in orbit, this revelation marks a significant advance in the militarization of space. As China and Russia continue to expand their space and anti-space capabilities, the move by Washington underscores the growing importance of space in future military conflicts.
