US Confirms Weapons Deployed In Space For First Time, Signals New Era Of Space Warfare

September 15, 2026

Washington: The United States has confirmed for the first time that it has weapons deployed in orbit, with the US Space Force saying the capabilities are intended to protect American forces from hostile actions by adversaries.

US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink made the disclosure at the annual Air, Space, and Cyber Conference at National Harbor in Maryland. However, he did not reveal what specific weapons have been deployed or provide further details when questioned.

The US Space Force said the country has “on-orbit” space-control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.

US Says Space Weapons Have Offensive And Defensive Roles

According to the US Space Force, space control involves missions aimed at contesting and controlling the space domain through both kinetic and non-kinetic means.

The capabilities can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes, the Space Force said, without disclosing their exact nature.

The announcement marks a significant development in the growing militarisation of space, particularly as the US increasingly views China and Russia as major strategic competitors in the domain.

China, Russia Seen As Major Space Threats

Washington has identified China and Russia as potential threats to US interests in space.

The US Space Force says China is developing and operating space and counterspace capabilities as part of its military modernisation strategy. It also says Russia views space as a warfighting domain and considers space supremacy an important factor in future conflicts.

The deployment of weapons capable of targeting space-based systems could have wider consequences because satellites support critical services ranging from weather forecasting and disaster response to navigation, communications and military operations.

Space Militarisation Dates Back To Cold War

The militarisation of space is not new. Soon after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, the United States and the Soviet Union began exploring ways to protect their own satellites and potentially disable those of adversaries.

One of the biggest early concerns was the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 subsequently prohibited the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit.

However, the treaty does not prohibit all military activities in space. The US, Russia, China and other countries, including India, have developed or explored military space capabilities, including systems designed to target or disable satellites.

With satellites now playing a crucial role in communications, surveillance, navigation and other essential services, the latest US disclosure signals an increasingly contested space environment and a new phase in space-based military capabilities.