In a historic first, the United States has acknowledged placing a weapon in orbit, a capability designed to shield American forces from hostile action in space. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink made the disclosure Monday at the annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, marking a significant shift in US space policy.
Meink did not specify the type of weapon or the date of its launch, but stated it is intended to "make sure that when we're threatened, we can take care of that." He emphasized that the US now possesses "on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action."
This is the first time a senior US official has publicly confirmed such a capability, which comes amid escalating concerns over Chinese and Russian anti-satellite programs. According to a US official cited by The Washington Post, the weapon could be used to disable an adversary's satellite if it threatened US troops or American assets in space.
Meink underscored the need for continued dominance beyond the atmosphere, saying it is "critically important that we maintain our dominance not only in the air but in space." The announcement drew swift and sharp reactions from both Beijing and Moscow.
China's Foreign Ministry took to social media on Tuesday, urging Washington to "stop preparing for war" in space. The ministry's statement, posted on X, reiterated China's commitment to the peaceful use of outer space and opposition to any arms race or weaponization of the domain. It called on the US to halt its military buildup and uphold global strategic stability through concrete actions.
The Kremlin also responded, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters in Moscow that "space must be free of any weapon." He expressed hope for broad international cooperation toward the complete demilitarization of space.
Meink brushed aside the criticism, questioning whether there is any doubt that China and Russia have been developing similar weapons. "Is there any question ... about whether or not the Chinese or Russians have been developing these sorts of weapons?" he asked reporters.
The disclosure comes as the Pentagon pushes forward with the orbital economy and its ambitious Golden Dome missile defense program, which includes space-based interceptors and tracking systems. The Congressional Budget Office projects the initiative could cost around $1.2 trillion over the next two decades, a figure that has sparked debate over defense spending priorities.
Analysts note that the US acknowledgment of an offensive space weapon marks a new chapter in the strategic competition with China and Russia, raising the stakes for arms control discussions. The move also comes amid broader tensions over military costs in the Middle East and the Pentagon's overall budget trajectory.
As the US military integrates space into its core warfighting domains, the international community will be watching closely to see how adversaries respond—and whether this deployment accelerates an arms race beyond Earth's atmosphere.
