Will the next war be in space? The US reveals a new capability

The United States has publicly admitted for the first time that it has placed weapons in orbit around Earth, in what is seen as a warning to Russia and China. US Space Force Secretary Troy Meink stated this at an Air, Space and Cyber Conference without detailing the type of weapon or how long it has been in space. This comes against the backdrop of the growing armament of Russia and China and concerns about satellite interference.

The United States has publicly admitted for the first time that it has placed weapons in orbit around Earth, in what is seen as a sharp warning directed at China and Russia. US Space Force Secretary Troy Meink said at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference: "Today we continue to ensure our readiness to meet the challenges of evolving threats, wherever they exist. That is why the United States now has weapons in a space control orbit, capable of protecting joint forces from hostile actions by adversaries." It has not yet been clarified what type of weapon was deployed or how long they have been there. Space weapons could include cyber attack tools, lasers, or satellites designed to collide with other satellites. A kinetic conflict in space could create long-term dangers due to space debris moving at enormous speeds. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits placing weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but powers are exploring other capabilities. Earlier this year, it was revealed that two Russian satellites have been intercepting communications of European satellites since 2022, and in 2024 the US announced that Russia launched a satellite with potential attack capability.