US Confirms Deployment of On-Orbit Space Weapons

The United States has deployed weapons into orbit for the first time, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink publicly confirmed on Monday, marking a significant shift in official U.S. military rhetoric on space capabilities. Speaking at the Air, Space, Cyber conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Meink stated, "This is why the United States now has, on orbit, space control weapons, capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary actions." Meink declined to provide specifics on the nature, number, or exact capabilities of the weapons. When asked to elaborate after his speech, he said his wording was "very well thought out," and repeated his statement. Representatives for the Pentagon and Space Force did not immediately respond to requests for additional details. The admission was described by defense experts as unprecedented. Victoria Samson, the Secure World Foundation's chief director of space security and stability, called the revelation "huge," noting, "I don't think any US government official has ever said that before.