US Confirms On-Orbit Weapons as China Warns Against a Space Arms Race and Russia Calls for Weapon-Free Orbit

The US has acknowledged having on-orbit space control weapons as China warns of a space arms race and Russia calls for demilitarization (Credit: Mara F/Unsplash)

The United States has publicly confirmed it has 'on-orbit space control weapons', a first-of-its-kind admission that drew an immediate warning from China against an arms race in space and a renewed call from Russia for orbit to be kept free of weapons.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink made the disclosure on Monday, 14 September, at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. He said the weapons were capable of 'defending the joint force against hostile adversary action' but declined to provide details about the systems.