The United States has confirmed it has deployed a space weapon in Earth's orbit, marking the first time it has acknowledged such offensive capabilities. US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink stated that the "on orbit" weapon is necessary to safeguard US forces against hostile enemy action.
Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Monday, Mr Meink said the US was ready for "evolving threats". However, he did not provide details on the weapon's capabilities or when it was put into orbit.
Senior military leaders have previously indicated plans to boost military capabilities in space, citing Russian and Chinese programmes that are developing ways to attack and disrupt US satellites in a future conflict. The Trump administration has stated that space-based capabilities are a crucial part of its planned "Golden Dome" defence system.
A 1967 treaty banned weapons of mass destruction in orbit. Since then, key powers including the US, Russia, and China have been exploring other capabilities outside of the treaty, such as targeting rivals' satellites, which are vital for military communications, surveillance, and navigation.
Last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order underlining the US Space Force's role in not only defending assets but also as an attacking force. The US Space Force, launched in 2019, aims to protect American assets in space, including hundreds of satellites used for communication and surveillance.
A US Space Force spokesperson said that "space control encapsulates the mission areas required to contest and control the space domain – employing kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities through disruption, degradation and even destruction, if necessary." The spokesperson added that these capabilities can be used for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.