US confirms it has deployed space weapons in Earth’s orbit, and Secretary of the Air Force says they are ready for ‘evolving threats’

The United States has officially confirmed the deployment of a space weapon into Earth’s orbit, marking the first time the government has acknowledged possessing such offensive capabilities, as reported by the BBC.

US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink announced the deployment during the Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Monday. He stated that the “on orbit” weapon is a necessary step to protect US forces from hostile enemy action. While Meink emphasized that the US is ready for “evolving threats,” he didn’t provide specific details regarding when the weapon was launched or exactly how it functions.

A spokesperson for the US Space Force provided some insight into the broader strategy, noting that space control involves using both kinetic and non-kinetic means to disrupt, degrade, or destroy adversary capabilities. The spokesperson added, “These capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.”

Experts are currently speculating on what this technology actually looks like

Dr. Bleddyn Bowen from the Royal United Services Institute told the Today programme that there is “precious little” publicly known about the tech. He suggested that it could be an electronic warfare or radio jamming platform, which would be similar to systems already in use on the ground. Another possibility is a kinetic kill vehicle, which would be designed to physically ram into an enemy satellite. However, Dr. Bowen noted that a kinetic weapon seems less likely because it would create a massive amount of space debris.

The international reaction was quick, with China warning against an arms race in outer space on Tuesday. A foreign ministry spokesman stated, “We urge the US side to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space.”

This development follows years of rising tension. Military leaders have long cited the rapid advancement of Russian and Chinese programs aimed at disrupting or attacking US satellites. For instance, the US reported that Russia launched a satellite in 2024 that appeared capable of attacking other probes. Additionally, it was revealed in early February that Russian satellites had likely intercepted communications from at least a dozen European satellites since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The US Space Force was launched in 2019 to protect critical American assets, including the hundreds of satellites we rely on for GPS, communication, and surveillance. Last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that solidified the Space Force’s role as both a defensive and an offensive force.

Space-based capabilities and interceptor missiles are also central to the “Golden Dome” defence system currently being planned by the President to protect the country from various airborne threats. While the 1967 treaty prohibits weapons of mass destruction in orbit, it doesn’t cover these newer, more targeted technologies.