US Confirms It Has Weapons Deployed in Space for the First Time

The US Space Force has officially confirmed for the first time that it possesses space control weapons deployed in orbit. This announcement comes as a response to the increasing military activities of Russia and China in space. The US stated these weapons could be used for defensive purposes against hostile actions.

Both China and Russia reacted to the US statement by calling for the demilitarization of space and urging against an arms race.

Highlights

• The US Space Force publicly announced for the first time the existence of "on-orbit space control weapons."
• These weapons are stated to be capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.
• The US cited Russia and China as threats, pointing to their military modernization and development of space warfare capabilities.
• China urged the US to "stop preparing for war" in outer space and avoid an arms race.
• Russia also emphasized the need to keep space free of weapons, calling for broad international cooperation.

Details

A spokesperson for the US Space Force stated in a press release that these capabilities can be employed for both offensive and defensive purposes. The statement did not provide specific details on the weapons in question. US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink also confirmed the existence of US weapons in space during the Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Monday.

The US indicated that China "develops and operates space and counterspace capabilities as part of a military modernization strategy," while Russia "views space as a warfighting domain and believes space supremacy will be a decisive factor in future conflicts." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun urged the US to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also stated on Tuesday that they believe space must be free of any weapon and are counting on broad international consolidation to continue working toward the complete demilitarization of space.

Why it matters

The militarization of space has been a concern since the dawn of the space race. While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, nations have continued to develop space warfare capabilities through other means, such as anti-satellite weapons. This confirmation by the US raises concerns about a potential new arms race in space and reignites discussions within the international community regarding the future status of outer space.