The US has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space

The United States confirmed that it has deployed a weapon into space, orbiting around the Earth, the first time it has admitted to possessing such offensive capabilities.

According to the US Air Force Undersecretary, Troy Meink, the weapon in orbit is required to protect US forces from hostile actions. At a conference on air, space, and cyber issues, Meink clarified that the US is prepared for "emerging threats," but refrained from specifying the weapon's capabilities or exactly when it was placed in orbit.

The announcement comes following repeated warnings from senior US military officials, who have called for strengthening the military presence in space. Their warning come in light of the development of technology by Russia and China to disrupt and attack American satellites in a future conflict.

At the same time, the Trump administration emphasized that space-based measures, alongside interceptor missiles, are a critical component in the "Golden Dome" program, the planned defense system to protect the skies of the United States.

Even though a 1967 international treaty prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space, powers such as the US, Russia, and China are working to develop advanced capabilities outside the boundaries of the treaty, with an emphasis on targeting rival satellites that are essential for military communication, surveillance, and navigation.

The United States Space Force, the newest military branch established in the country in more than seven decades, was launched in 2019 with the goal of securing hundreds of satellites and strategic assets. Last year, President Trump further clarified in an executive order that the corps' purpose is not limited to defense alone, but also includes offensive capabilities.