US says it has weapons in orbit to protect its forces — AeroTime
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said that the United States already has weapons in orbit to protect its forces from hostile actions. He said this on September 14 at the Air & Space Forces Association's Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, AeroTime reports.
Details of the systems are not disclosed
According to Meink, the United States has “space control capabilities on orbit.” He did not specify which systems were involved, how they work, or when they were deployed. The official also did not name any specific satellite or spacecraft carrying these weapons.
Later, Meink confirmed that the wording of the statement had been carefully considered. At the same time, he did not answer whether these weapons are capable of physically striking targets or use other methods to disable them. The US Department of the Air Force also did not provide additional details.
During a separate briefing, Meink said that acknowledging the existence of such systems could deter adversaries, while disclosing their capabilities or tests could weaken that effect. He linked the need to protect the United States' ability to operate in space to weapons development by China and Russia.
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Risks and other space programs
Deploying weapons in orbit raises concerns about a possible arms race and risks to satellites that provide civilian communications, navigation, and other important services. The destruction of satellites during attacks can create debris that is dangerous to other spacecraft, including those belonging to countries outside the conflict. The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned about such consequences of hostilities in space.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits placing nuclear weapons and other types of weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but does not establish a complete ban on conventional weapons.
Separately, Meink reported on the development of space interceptors as part of the US Golden Dome missile defense initiative. According to him, in less than a year the project progressed from its first contract to flight-ready hardware. He did not equate these interceptors with the weapons already deployed in orbit: the program still requires demonstrations in space and integration with the broader missile defense system.
In addition, the official said that the first satellites of a new air target tracking system are to be launched this month. It will complement tasks currently performed by airborne early warning aircraft, including the E-7 Wedgetail.
