US military confirms first-ever weapons in space
Image: Getty
Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of… the US military?
The Pentagon this week acknowledged for the first time that it has deployed weapons in Earth’s orbit, opening space as the next potential global battleground.
Why it’s a big deal: Modern militaries rely on satellites for everything from communication and navigation to missile tracking, intelligence, and identifying targets, making control over what happens in orbit increasingly valuable during conflicts on Earth.
The modern military space race kicked into a higher gear in 2019, when President Trump directed the creation of the Space Force, the first new branch of the US military since 1947.
So, what did the US put up there?
While the exact details are locked up tighter than a space station airlock, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the US has “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of defending American forces against hostile action.
A Space Force spokesperson said they could involve “kinetic” means that physically damage a target, or “non-kinetic” ones that interfere without blowing the target up.
With specifics under wraps, experts and former officials have pointed to a few possibilities:
- Jammers that could interfere with satellite signals.
- Lasers or high-powered microwaves that could damage or disable equipment.
- Technology to grab another satellite and move it out of position.
In response to America’s space weapon announcement, China’s Foreign Ministry accused the US of “preparing for war in outer space” and urged Washington to stop fueling an arms race. Russia has also previously called for keeping weapons out of space.
But with only the 1967 Outer Space Treaty that bans nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction from orbit, it leaves the door open for weapons like jammers, lasers, and other systems designed to disable satellites.
Looking ahead…President Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile-defense project, signed in under executive order last December, includes plans for space-based interceptors, with a major test scheduled before the 2028 election.
The US space-based interceptor program has already gone from its initial contract to “flight-ready hardware” in less than a year, per Air Force Sec. Meink.
📊 Flash poll: Which statement comes closest to your view? A) America should deploy space weapons to proactively defend national security; or B) America should try to avoid placing weapons in orbit to help prevent an accelerating global space arms race?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that the US is dangerously unprepared for a nuclear attack in space, since a single detonation in low Earth orbit could cripple thousands of satellites that support the economy and military. They say the government needs to invest now in ways to protect, replace, and rebuild critical space infrastructure before such an attack occurs.
- Others contend that building a massive space-based missile defense system would cost enormous sums without reliably protecting the US from a nuclear attack. They also argue that placing more weapons in space could fuel an arms race with Russia and China that ultimately makes the country less secure.
- “Is America ready for a nuclear explosion in space?” –Peter A. Garretson and Richard M. Harrison, The Hill
- “Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’ Space Weapons Plan Ignores Physics and Fiscal Reality” –Dan Vergano, Scientific American
- “The Warning” –W.J. Hennigan, NY Times
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the US military needs to redesign its bases for a world where adversaries can constantly monitor American forces from space, since increasingly accessible satellite imagery makes exposed aircraft and other military assets easier to target. They say the US should rely more on hardened shelters, underground facilities, and other defenses that make those assets harder to find and destroy.
- Others contend that openly demonstrating the US military’s ability to fight in space can deter China and Russia from attacking American satellites, since adversaries are less likely to strike if they know the US has the capability to respond.
- “The U.S. should fight like its enemies are watching” –Elaine McCusker and Brady Africk, WaPo
- “U.S. Space Weapons Are a Force for Peace” –WSJ Editorial Board
- “Iran War Proves Trump Was Right on Space Force” –Andrew Follet, National Review
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