U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said Monday that the United States possesses weapons stationed in Earth orbit, in the first public acknowledgment of a military capability that has fueled decades of debate over the militarization of space.
Meink announces possession of weapons for space control
Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Meink said his country continues to prepare to confront evolving threats, adding that the United States now possesses weapons for space control in orbit capable of protecting joint forces from any hostile action by its adversaries. A U.S. Space Force spokesperson said the capabilities could be used for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.
He linked the announcement to the testing and operation of Russian and Chinese weapons since 2007, saying that openly discussing space capabilities strengthens deterrence and reduces the likelihood of miscalculation.
Warnings over the consequences of targeting satellites
Potential space weapons include cyber tools and lasers, as well as satellites designed to collide with other satellites, although Meink did not specify the nature of the U.S. systems he referred to.
Any kinetic conflict in orbit also carries long-term risks, as destroying satellites could spread debris moving at high speeds, increasing the likelihood of collisions and making it harder to launch and safely operate spacecraft.
