US confirms deploying weapon into orbit for first time

The United States has officially confirmed, for the first time, that it has deployed a weapon into orbit.

The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink made the announcement at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference.

Meink said the United States was prepared to address evolving threats but did not provide details about the weapon’s capabilities or when it was placed in orbit. Senior US military officials have previously said that Russia and China were developing capabilities to attack US satellites in future conflicts. The administration of US President Donald Trump has also said that space-based capabilities and interceptor missiles would be key components of the “Golden Dome” defense system intended to protect the country.

The US Space Force was established in 2019 to protect American assets in space. A Space Force spokesperson said that, if necessary, the United States could counter hostile capabilities using kinetic and non-kinetic means. It was also noted that two Russian satellites had interfered with communications involving European satellites in early February, while China and Russia view space as a domain for military operations.

The confirmation comes amid growing international concern over the militarization of space. Major powers have expanded satellite-based communications, surveillance and navigation systems, increasing the strategic importance of protecting orbital infrastructure and maintaining the security of space-based assets.