United States confirms deployment of on-orbit space weapons

United States Air Force Secretary Troy Meink recently confirmed the deployment of “on-orbit space control weapons” intended to defend the Joint Force against hostile actions. However, specific details regarding the nature, functionality, or intended targets of these weapons have not been disclosed.

The 2026 Global Counterspace Capabilities Report by the Secure World Foundation highlights a growing global interest in space weaponry. The report identifies five categories of counterspace capabilities being developed by 13 nations, including the United States, Russia, China, India, Australia, France, Iran, and Israel.

These capabilities include: • Satellites designed to maneuver near, inspect, disable, or destroy other spacecraft. • Kinetic interceptors launched from ground, air, or sea to destroy satellites. • Electronic warfare, such as signal jamming. • Directed energy weapons, including lasers or high-power microwaves to damage satellite sensors. • Cyber operations targeting space-based networks.