US Space Force confirms weapons deployed in space for first time

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is prepared for launch with NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on August 29, 2026. © Joe Skipper, Reuters

The US Space Force on Monday confirmed for the first time that Washington has weapons deployed in orbit, as the United States, China and Russia expand their military capabilities in space. The disclosure highlights a growing focus on controlling the space domain and protecting satellites vital to military communications, surveillance and navigation.

The United States has weapons deployed in space, the US Space Force said on Monday, confirming the presence of such capabilities in orbit for the first time.