TLDR
- The US Space Force has confirmed for the first time that it has weapons deployed in Earth’s orbit
- Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the weapons are needed to protect US forces from hostile action
- The weapons can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes, according to officials
- China and Russia both responded, urging the US to stop militarizing space
- Details about the weapons’ capabilities and when they were deployed remain classified
The United States has officially confirmed for the first time that it has weapons deployed in Earth’s orbit. The announcement came from US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Monday.
US Confirms Weapons in Orbit for the First Time After Decades of Ambiguity
Washington has publicly acknowledged an on-orbit weapon capability for the first time, saying such systems can be used for offensive or defensive operations.https://t.co/pMnWKkcByY
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 15, 2026
Meink said the weapons were necessary to protect US forces from hostile enemy action. He said the country was ready for “evolving threats” but gave no details on what the weapons can do or when they were placed in orbit.
The US Space Force followed up with a press release confirming the existence of what it called “on-orbit space control weapons.” The statement said the weapons are capable of defending US forces against hostile adversary action.
The Space Force said these capabilities can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes. It added the weapons can disrupt, degrade, or even destroy adversary capabilities when directed by military commanders.
Experts say very little is publicly known about the technology. Dr. Bleddyn Bowen from the Royal United Services Institute told the BBC that the weapon could be an electronic warfare or radio jamming platform.
What the Weapons Could Be
A jamming platform would work by disrupting radio communications. That type of weapon already exists on Earth.
Another possibility, according to Bowen, is a kinetic kill vehicle. This would be a device that releases a projectile to physically destroy an enemy satellite. However, Bowen said this was less likely because it would create dangerous debris in orbit.
The US Space Force pointed to both Russia and China as the reason for deploying the weapons. It said China operates counterspace capabilities as part of its military strategy, while Russia views space as a warfighting domain.
In early 2025, two Russian satellites were found to have likely intercepted communications from over a dozen European satellites. US officials also said in 2024 that Russia launched a satellite believed to be capable of attacking other satellites.
How China and Russia Responded
China’s foreign ministry urged the US to stop expanding military capabilities in space. Spokesman Guo Jiakun warned against an arms race in orbit.
Russia also called for space to remain free of weapons. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow is pushing for the complete demilitarization of space.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty banned weapons of mass destruction in orbit. However, it did not ban all weapons, and major powers have been exploring other space-based military tools ever since.
The US Space Force was created in 2019 under President Donald Trump. It is the first new branch of the US military in over 70 years.
The weapons announcement also connects to Trump’s planned “Golden Dome” defence system, which would use space-based capabilities and interceptor missiles to protect the US from airborne threats.
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