In a first, US Space Force confirms weapons deployed in orbit - Firstpost

**U.S. Space Force Acknowledges Deployment of On‑Orbit Weapons**

Washington – For the first time since the creation of the United States Space Force in 2019, senior officials have publicly confirmed that the service has placed weapons in Earth orbit. In a briefing on Tuesday, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told members of Congress that the Space Force now operates “on‑orbit kinetic and directed‑energy capabilities” designed to protect U.S. satellites and deter hostile actions in space. The announcement follows a series of classified briefings to senior military leaders and marks a shift from the long‑standing policy of not commenting on the specific nature of U.S. space‑based armaments.

The disclosed systems include a limited number of kinetic interceptors capable of striking hostile debris or adversary satellites, as well as prototype directed‑energy devices intended to blind or disrupt enemy sensors. These assets are intended to be integrated with the Space Force’s broader “Space Defense” architecture, which emphasizes rapid response to threats against U.S. space assets that underpin global communications, navigation, and intelligence networks. While the exact quantities and deployment dates remain classified, officials emphasized that the weapons are “defensive by design” and are subject to stringent rules of engagement and oversight by the Department of Defense and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

International reaction was swift. Officials in Beijing and Moscow issued statements warning that the U.S. move “turns space into a battlefield” and could trigger an arms race in the high‑ground domain. Both China and Russia have cited the Outer Space Treaty, to which the United States is a signatory, arguing that the deployment of weaponized platforms in orbit contravenes the treaty’s spirit of peaceful use. The Pentagon, however, maintains that the weapons are compliant with existing international law because they are intended solely for defensive purposes and are not permanent fixtures on foreign territory. The disclosure is likely to shape upcoming diplomatic negotiations on space security and may prompt calls for new multilateral agreements to govern the militarization of orbit.