US has weapons deployed in orbit, Space Force says, for ‘offensive and defensive’ use

Both Russia and China – the two main geopolitical rivals of the United States – pose potential threats to US interests in space

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.

“The US has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action,” a US Space Force spokesperson said in a statement that did not provide specifics on the weapons.

“Space control encapsulates the mission areas required to contest and control the space domain – employing kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities,” the statement said, adding that “these capabilities can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes”.

Both Russia and China – the two main geopolitical rivals of the United States – pose potential threats to US interests in space.