The United States has deployed its first operational on-orbit “space control weapon” capable of defending American and allied forces against hostile actions, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced, as reported by The Washington Post.
Speaking at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Meink confirmed that the weapon is already positioned in orbit. While declining to detail the specific capabilities, he hinted that it would be used for “space control.”
“It’s important from a deterrence perspective,” he said, stating that the new weapon will defend U.S. forces against “hostile adversary action.”
An anonymous U.S. official added that the mentioned “space control” could include the military taking out an enemy’s satellite if it’s being used to target American troops or a U.S. satellite, The Washington Post reports.
According to the outlet, this marks the first public acknowledgment by U.S. officials of weapons stationed in space. The disclosure follows years of rising tensions and warnings over rapid advancements by China and Russia.