US official says orbital weapons deployed as other nations' systems stay hidden

Dana Whitfield · 2026-10-06T06:20:12.655Z

It's alarming the US admits to orbital weapons while rivals hide theirs, risking an unchecked arms race that could cripple global satellite networks.

US official says orbital weapons deployed as other nations' systems stay hidden — © IJR

Sponsored

U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said at the Air & Space Forces Association conference in National Harbor, Md., that the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action. He gave no system details. The 2026 Secure World Foundation Global Counterspace Capabilities Report covers 13 countries and five types: approach/disable satellites, kinetic interceptors, jamming, lasers and microwaves, and cyber. China used a robotic-arm satellite in 2022 to tow a defunct satellite out of orbit. Jonathan McDowell counts about 16,810 functioning satellites today versus 128 at end of 1967. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons and WMDs in orbit. On March 9, 2026, Hezbollah struck the Valley of Elah satellite station; Israeli teams quickly repaired it. A senior IDF official said space is an actual theater of war. Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir decided to form an IDF Space Brigade under the Hosen plan. Contested: The U.S. warned two years ago that Russia was developing a space-based anti-satellite weapon. The White House said the threat was not imminent; John Kirby said it would violate the Outer Space Treaty. Russia denied the capability.