In a first, US Air Force Secretary reveals Washington has weapons in space; to counter challenges from adversaries

The United States has officially confirmed it has deployed weapons in space to counter threats from adversaries, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced on Monday. This marks the first public acknowledgment of such capabilities in orbit, according to CNN. Meink made the remarks during an annual gathering hosted by the Air & Space Forces Association in Maryland, emphasizing the need to maintain dominance in both air and space.

The statement comes as the US seeks to address concerns over dwindling munitions supplies following the ongoing war with Iran and to ensure sufficient weapons stocks for potential future conflicts. Meink did not disclose when these weapons were deployed or provide further details about them, but he noted that a space-based interceptor program had progressed from initial contract to flight-ready hardware in less than a year.

The disclosure underscores the growing role of the US Space Force as Washington aims to strengthen its capabilities in the increasingly contested space domain. The US Space Force, established by President Donald Trump in 2019, faces challenges from China and Russia, which are developing space and counterspace capabilities. US officials have highlighted Russian satellite constellation training exercises and China's development of a nuclear-capable partial-orbit hypersonic missile as potential threats.

Despite the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibiting the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, the treaty does not explicitly ban conventional weapons or ground-based weapons targeting assets in space, leading to ongoing debates about the militarization of space.