The United States has publicly acknowledged for the first time that it has “on-orbit space control weapons,” revealing a closely guarded military capability as competition among major powers expands into space.
U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink disclosed the weapons Monday at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. He said the systems could help protect U.S. and allied forces against hostile action. Meink did not reveal what the weapons are, how many are in orbit, or when they were deployed.
US reveals weapons operating in orbit
A U.S. Space Force spokesperson said “space control” covers capabilities needed to contest and control operations in space. Those systems can use kinetic and non-kinetic methods to disrupt, degrade or destroy an adversary’s capabilities if necessary. They can also serve offensive or defensive purposes. However, officials have not said which type of system is currently operating in orbit.
Bleddyn Bowen, an expert on military uses of space at the Royal United Services Institute, said little is publicly known about the technology. Bowen stressed that he was speculating. One possibility, he said, is an electronic warfare or radio-jamming platform that could interfere with communications.
The U.S. military has “on-orbit” space weapons.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink revealed the U.S. has space-control weapons capable of defending against hostile adversaries, but did not disclose what type of weapons they are. pic.twitter.com/tMdpCLDhnm
— Complex (@Complex) September 14, 2026
Such capabilities are gaining wider attention as countries strengthen their military presence in space. Greece is developing a homegrown military satellite designed to support surveillance and electronic warfare operations, including communications jamming.
Another possibility is a kinetic weapon capable of physically striking a satellite. Bowen considered that less likely because destroying satellites can create dangerous orbital debris.
China warns against space arms race
China responded Tuesday by urging Washington to stop expanding its military capabilities in space. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warned against an arms race and urged the United States to stop “preparing for war in outer space.”
The exchange comes as satellites become increasingly important to modern warfare. Militaries depend on them for communications, navigation, surveillance, intelligence and missile warnings. Greece has also expanded its presence in orbit, recently activating its first national satellite fleet for uses that include border surveillance and national security.
Washington has repeatedly warned that China and Russia are developing systems capable of threatening Western satellites. In February, Russian satellites were suspected of intercepting communications from European satellites, raising concerns about the vulnerability of sensitive information transmitted in orbit.
Golden Dome adds focus on space defense
The Trump administration has placed space-based technology at the center of its planned Golden Dome missile defense system. The project is expected to use space-based capabilities and interceptors to defend the United States against missile threats. The Space Force, established in 2019, is responsible for protecting U.S. interests and military assets in space.
Other countries are also developing layered defense networks that extend into space. Greece and Israel recently signed an agreement for the “Achilles Shield”, which will combine missile defense, satellites, and other military systems into a broader defense network.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction from being placed in orbit. It does not impose a general ban on conventional space weapons.
The latest disclosure offers little information about what Washington has actually deployed. But it underscores a wider shift in military strategy as the United States, China and Russia prepare for the possibility that future conflicts could extend beyond Earth.
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