The USA publicly confirms that it has deployed a space weapon into Earth’s orbit

The United States has publicly confirmed for the first time that it deployed a space weapon in Earth orbit, described by US officials as a system intended to protect US forces against threats from adversaries. The announcement was made on Monday at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, amid concerns over Russian and Chinese programs aimed at attacking or disrupting satellites.

US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said the weapon located “in orbit” is necessary to respond to evolving threats. The official provided no details about the system’s capabilities or when it was placed in space.

Space systems and interceptor missiles are considered components of the Golden Dome project, initiated by the Trump administration to protect US territory against missiles and other aerial threats.

The 1967 international treaty prohibits placing weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but does not explicitly rule out other antisatellite capabilities. These can affect military communications, surveillance and navigation. Established in 2019, the US Space Force is tasked with protecting American assets in space. According to a spokesperson, operations may include kinetic and non-kinetic means, both defensive and offensive.