New Delhi: Giving a rare public account of its military capabilities beyond earth, the United States has acknowledged that it has space-control weapons capable of operating in orbit.
The US Space Force said the weapons are intended to protect American forces from hostile actions in space and can be used for both offensive and defensive missions.
The statement did not disclose which specific weapons have been deployed in orbit. The admission comes at a time when the United States considers China and Russia its two biggest rivals in space. Both countries have been developing military capabilities that could be used against satellites and other space-based systems during a conflict. The US Space Force described space control as a set of missions needed to challenge and control activities in the space domain. This includes the use of kinetic and non-kinetic methods to affect adversary capabilities. The statement did not provide details about the weapons, their location in orbit or how they could be used against another country’s space assets. The reference to kinetic and non-kinetic methods refers to different ways of interfering with or disabling an adversary’s space systems. Satellites support military communications, surveillance and navigation. They are important assets during a war. The United States sees China and Russia as its two biggest competitors in space.
Its spokesperson said on Monday (September 14), “The US has space control weapons in orbit that can defend the joint force against adversary actions.
The spokesperson said, “Space control includes the missions necessary to contest and control the space domain. It also said these capabilities can be used for both attack and defence. The US Space Force says Beijing has been developing and operating space and counter-space capabilities as part of its military modernisation strategy.
