The United States has publicly acknowledged deploying weapons in space for the first time.

This announcement from Washington comes amid escalating tensions with Russia and China.

Russian media outlet RT reported this information on Tuesday (September 15).

Earlier on Monday, US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink revealed this information during the opening ceremony of the Air & Space Forces Association's 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

In his keynote address, he said that the US is working to remain prepared to counter evolving threats in various locations.

For this reason, the US Space Force now possesses in-orbit "space control" weapons capable of protecting joint forces from enemy attacks.

However, Meink did not provide details on the specific types of weapons deployed in space. He stated that the matter is crucial from the perspective of deterrence.

During the question-and-answer session as well, he declined to elaborate further, saying that the wording used in his speech was "very carefully chosen."

In his words, maintaining US dominance not only in the air but also in space is vital.

Citing US officials, The Washington Post reported that the technology Meink referred to may include the capability to disable enemy satellites.

Specifically, this could involve destroying or neutralizing a satellite if it is used to target US troops or other American satellites.

There is currently no international ban on the "deployment of weapons" in space, provided they are not weapons of mass destruction.

US President Donald Trump established the Space Force during his first term in 2019, describing space at the time as the world's "newest warfighting domain."

Subsequently, last year, Trump announced plans to build a multi-layered missile defense system named the "Golden Dome."

Aimed at protecting the entire United States, this proposed system includes space-based missile interception technology.

The Golden Dome plan bears similarities to former US President Ronald Reagan's "Strategic Defense Initiative" (SDI). Launched in 1983 during the height of the Cold War, that program became known as "Star Wars."

However, the program was gradually scaled back and ultimately abandoned before any space-based weapons could be deployed.

Russia has long expressed concern over the militarization of space. In March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the "militarization" of space, stating that the Golden Dome poses a major threat to strategic stability.

Since the 2000s, the US, China, India, and Russia have tested anti-satellite weapons. In November 2021, the Russian military destroyed a defunct Soviet-era intelligence satellite.

At the time, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that the operation was conducted in compliance with international law and was not directed against any specific country.
Source: RT