For the first time, Washington has acknowledged that it has operational weapons stationed in orbit. The US Space Force confirmed the existence of space‑control systems designed to counter threats from adversaries.
A spokesperson said, “The US has on‑orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.”
However, no technical details or numbers were disclosed, TRT World reports.
The statement explained that space control covers missions to contest and dominate the space domain, employing both kinetic and non‑kinetic measures against adversary capabilities, and noted these systems can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes.
The Space Force identified China and Russia as the primary drivers behind the deployment, citing their growing space and counter‑space programmes.
US military assessments describe Beijing as developing and operating space and counter‑space assets as part of its modernization strategy, while Moscow views space as a warfighting domain and believes supremacy there will be decisive in future conflicts.
The militarisation of space dates back to the Cold War, when the launch of Sputnik in 1957 spurred Washington and Moscow to explore ways to arm or destroy satellites.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty banned nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but major powers including the US, Russia, China, and India have continued to develop counter‑space capabilities outside its scope.
These systems primarily target satellites vital for communications, surveillance, and military navigation.
