What happens when the battlefield moves from Earth into orbit? The United States has now publicly confirmed that it has deployed space-control weapons, raising fresh concerns about whether space could become the next arena for military confrontation.
The United States has acknowledged deploying a space-control weapon in orbit, revealing a military capability that had previously not been publicly confirmed by Washington.
US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink confirmed the deployment but did not disclose when the systems were launched, how many are currently in orbit or their precise capabilities.
US officials describe the systems as part of efforts to protect American forces and assets from potential threats in space. The disclosure has nevertheless attracted attention from Russia and China, which have warned about the possibility of an escalating space arms race.
The development is significant because satellites support many services used on Earth, including communications, navigation, internet connectivity and other critical infrastructure.
A conflict involving space based systems could therefore extend beyond military operations and potentially disrupt services relied upon by civilians and businesses.
However, the exact nature and capabilities of the US deployment remain undisclosed.
