U.S. Air Force Secretary Announces Deployment of On-Orbit Space Control Weapons

Air Force Secretary Troy Meek said on Monday that the United States has placed weapons in orbit that can be used to protect American forces. Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Meek said the deployment reflects readiness against evolving threats and that the U.S. now possesses "on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action."

Meek declined to provide details about the systems or the timeline of their launch. The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about rival space programs, with the U.S. Space Force noting that China and Russia are developing capabilities that could challenge U.S. dominance in the domain.

U.S. officials have previously warned that Russia is testing satellite constellations that could demonstrate offensive tactics, while China is pursuing hypersonic missile technologies. Intelligence reports have also suggested that Russia is exploring a space-based electromagnetic pulse weapon, a claim Moscow denies.

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons in orbit but does not forbid conventional weapons or ground-based attacks on space assets, leaving legal ambiguity for such deployments. In December, an executive order emphasized U.S. superiority in space and called for development of advanced missile-defense systems, including a proposed "Golden Dome" interceptor network slated for completion by 2028. Meek added that a space-based interceptor program has progressed from contract to flight-ready hardware within a year, though further specifics were not disclosed.