US acknowledges orbiting ‘space-control weapons’ as China and Russia warn of arms race
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink says the undisclosed systems are intended to defend US forces, but experts warn the announcement could normalise the weaponisation of space.
The United States has acknowledged deploying undisclosed “space-control weapons” into Earth orbit, with Air Force Secretary Troy Meink saying the systems are capable of defending US forces against hostile action.
Meink did not disclose the weapons’ number, location, deployment date or precise function. Experts cited by Al Jazeera said they were more likely to be electronic-warfare or communications-jamming systems than kinetic weapons designed to destroy satellites and generate debris.
The term “space control” covers offensive and defensive capabilities intended to contest or control space-based systems. The US Space Force operates and protects military satellites, provides communications and positioning services, monitors threats and supports military operations in and through space.
The announcement has drawn criticism from Beijing and Moscow. China urged Washington to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space, while Russia called for space to remain free of weapons and for international efforts towards its complete demilitarisation.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but does not expressly ban conventional weapons in Earth orbit. The reported deployment therefore does not, on the information available, establish a treaty violation.
Experts warned that the disclosure could accelerate an existing counterspace competition. China and Russia are reported to possess or develop jamming, spoofing, cyber, rendezvous and anti-satellite capabilities, while India has demonstrated an anti-satellite capability. It remains unclear whether the US statement announces a new operational capability or publicly confirms an existing one.
