US Confirms Weapons Deployed in Space to Defend Military Forces

The United States has publicly acknowledged for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space, marking a significant development in the country’s military space capabilities.

US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink made the disclosure on Monday at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland. He said the Space Force now has “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of protecting US forces against hostile actions.

Meink did not reveal what type of weapons are involved, when they were deployed or how they would be used. He said the disclosure was partly intended to strengthen deterrence as the US responds to growing military capabilities from countries such as China and Russia.

The announcement represents the clearest public confirmation yet of US offensive capabilities in space, an increasingly important area of military competition.