US Air Force Secretary Confirms Weapons Deployed in Space
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has confirmed that Washington has deployed weapons in space and will use them as required against growing threats from China and Russia.
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has confirmed that Washington has placed weapons in space, marking the first public acknowledgment of such a deployment by a senior American official. He said the weapons would be used as and when required.
Meink attributed the move to what he described as growing space-based challenges from China and Russia. The disclosure signals a shift in how the United States characterizes its military posture in orbit, where it has traditionally avoided confirming the presence of offensive capabilities.
The statement, made on Monday local time, did not specify the nature of the weapons deployed or the timeline of their placement. No further operational details were provided.
The acknowledgment is likely to sharpen debate over the militarization of outer space, an arena where major powers have increasingly competed for strategic advantage. Both China and Russia have advanced their own space programmes in recent years, prompting concerns in Washington about the vulnerability of American satellites and related infrastructure.