The Pentagon has openly confirmed for the first time that the United States already has weapons deployed directly in orbit. These are so-called space control capabilities designed to protect US forces from adversary actions in space.
TWZ reported this, citing US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and the US Space Force.
During the Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Meink said the United States has on-orbit capabilities able to protect US forces from adversary actions in space. However, he declined to disclose what type of weapon is already deployed in orbit.
The US Space Force explained that the concept of “space control” covers capabilities able to affect an adversary’s systems — from disrupting their operation and degrading their effectiveness to destroying them if necessary. Both kinetic and non-kinetic means may be used, and such capabilities can serve both defensive and offensive purposes.
At the same time, US military officials have not disclosed how these systems work, their payloads, technical characteristics or methods of employment. The Space Force stressed that public discussion concerns doctrine and mission sets, not the disclosure of sensitive operational details.
Until now, the US military had officially acknowledged only ground-based anti-satellite electronic warfare systems. The latest statement means that at least some such capabilities are now deployed directly in space.
Meink said such systems are necessary because of the growing importance of space to US military, economic and civilian activities. According to him, Washington aims to maintain superiority not only in the air but also in space.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits placing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but does not impose the same ban on conventional weapons.
