US Makes First Public Disclosure of Weapons Deployed in Space

The United States has publicly acknowledged for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space, marking a significant development in the growing military competition beyond Earth.

Troy Meink, the U.S. Air Force Secretary, disclosed the information Monday at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference in Maryland. He said the United States now has “on-orbit space control weapons” designed to protect the Joint Force from hostile actions by adversaries.

Meink provided no details about the systems, including how many are in orbit, what technology they use or whether they are designed to target satellites, spacecraft or other objects. He also declined to say whether the weapons use kinetic or non-kinetic capabilities.

The secretary said the decision to acknowledge their existence was deliberate, while maintaining that revealing further details could undermine their deterrent value.

The announcement comes amid growing concern in Washington over the development of space-based military capabilities by Russia and China. The United States has previously accused Russia of pursuing anti-satellite weapons and has also demonstrated the ability to destroy satellites using missiles launched from Earth.

American military planners have increasingly emphasized the vulnerability of satellite infrastructure, which supports communications, navigation, intelligence and other critical military and civilian functions.

During his conference address, Meink also outlined plans for a broader transformation of the Air Force and Space Force. He said the services would expand their use of autonomous systems and could look substantially different by 2032.

Among the changes he described was a greater reliance on one-way attack drones, which he said could eventually replace artillery as a primary means of delivering lethal force.

“We are increasing readiness against existing threats,” Meink said.

Growing Focus on Space-Based Defense

The disclosure comes as the Trump administration places greater emphasis on military capabilities in space.

Former President Donald Trump established the U.S. Space Force as a separate branch of the military in 2019. His administration has also advanced the Golden Dome missile-defense initiative, which includes plans for space-based interceptors.

The Congressional Budget Office previously estimated that developing and operating certain space-based interceptor constellations for 20 years could cost between $161 billion and $831 billion, depending on the system and assumptions used. Under one of the higher-cost scenarios examined by the CBO, the estimate was $542 billion.

Meink said the Space Force is already working to expand systems capable of detecting and responding to threats in space. Two programs highlighted by the secretary are the Space-Based Interceptor initiative and the Space-Based Air-Moving Target Indication constellation, both associated with the broader Golden Dome architecture.

Russia, China and the Debate Over Space Weapons

Concerns about the militarisation of space have intensified in recent years, particularly over developments involving Russia and China.

In 2024, the Biden administration said Russia was developing a space-based nuclear weapon capable of remaining in orbit for extended periods and potentially damaging satellites. The disclosure renewed international debate over the deployment of weapons beyond Earth.

At the United Nations in April 2024, Russia vetoed a U.S.-Japanese resolution calling on countries not to develop or deploy nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in space.

Russia instead backed a separate proposal calling for a broader ban on weapons in space. That initiative failed to secure sufficient support.

The debate centres partly on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits countries from placing nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit. The treaty also establishes principles governing the peaceful use and exploration of outer space.

Russia has accused the United States and its allies of applying a double standard by opposing a comprehensive prohibition on weapons in space while developing their own military capabilities.

The latest U.S. disclosure is therefore likely to add another layer to the longstanding international debate over how countries should regulate military activities in orbit and prevent an escalation of space-based conflict.

Source: The Asahi Shimbun