US military confirms it launched space weapons into Earth’s orbit
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed the first acknowledged deployment of US space-control weapons in orbit, amid suspected Chinese and Russian counterspace programs.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink stated the military now operates 'on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force,' without specifying types, functions, or quantities. The disclosure follows long-standing suspicions that China operates spacecraft able to damage other satellites and US Space Force claims Russia is developing a satellite designed to carry a nuclear weapon. The US had previously disavowed satellite destruction due to orbital debris risks.
- First official US acknowledgment of deployed space weapons in orbit
- No details given on weapon types, capabilities, or quantities
- China suspected of satellite-damaging spacecraft; Russia developing nuclear-armed satellite
- US previously avoided anti-satellite deployments over orbital debris concerns
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In Brief
Posted:
10:09 AM PDT · September 15, 2026
The U.S. military has for the first time acknowledged that it deployed a space weapon into Earth’s orbit.
U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, who oversees the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, said in a speech Monday that the military has “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.”
Meink did not say what the weapons are, what they do, or how many of them have been deployed, but Meink’s phrasing was reportedly intentional and “very well thought out.” A spokesperson for the Air Force did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment, including what threats the Air Force was responding to by launching the weapon.
The deployment comes as China is long suspected of operating spacecraft capable of causing damage to other satellites. The U.S. Space Force says Russia is currently developing a satellite “designed to carry a nuclear weapon.”
According to The Times, the U.S. had long disavowed the destruction of satellites in space as attacks can leave debris harmful to other space objects and astronauts.
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