US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink says the Space Force has deployed undisclosed space control weapons in orbit to protect American forces.
The United States has publicly acknowledged for the first time that it has “space control weapons” deployed in orbit, revealing a previously undisclosed element of Washington’s military capabilities in space.
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink made the disclosure Sept. 14 while speaking at the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
Meink said the US Space Force now has weapons in orbit capable of protecting American forces against hostile actions by adversaries. He described the capability as necessary as threats to the United States continue to evolve.
The admission is significant because US officials have previously discussed counter-space capabilities and the need to defend satellites, but had not publicly confirmed that American weapon systems were already operating in orbit.
Meink did not disclose the type of weapons involved, when they were launched or how they operate. He also declined to say whether the systems are kinetic or non-kinetic, arguing that revealing operational details could undermine their deterrent value.
He later indicated that the decision to acknowledge the weapons was deliberate, emphasizing the importance of preserving US freedom of action in space.
The disclosure comes amid growing American concerns over the military space programmes of China and Russia. US officials have repeatedly warned that both countries are developing and testing technologies capable of threatening satellites and other space-based assets.
“Space control” is a broad term covering defensive and offensive capabilities. Such systems can include technologies intended to protect friendly spacecraft, disrupt hostile satellites or otherwise neutralize an adversary’s space-based capabilities.
The announcement also comes as the Trump administration advances its Golden Dome missile defense initiative. Meink said the Space Force has reached flight-ready hardware for space-based interceptors designed to counter missile threats from orbit.
The United States is also preparing a constellation of space-based systems designed to track airborne threats, with the first satellites associated with the program expected to begin launching this month.
The revelation could intensify debate over the future of military operations beyond Earth. While Washington has emphasized the defensive purpose of its orbital capabilities, the disclosure may be viewed by experts and rival governments as another development in the militarization of space.
Under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, countries are prohibited from placing weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, in orbit. The treaty, however, does not impose a blanket prohibition on conventional military systems in space.
The disclosure underscores Washington’s growing focus on maintaining its ability to defend military assets and preserve operational freedom as strategic competition increasingly extends into orbit.
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