Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced the United States has deployed on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action. Speaking at the Air and Space Forces Association’s annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference near Washington, DC, Meink stated the deployment ensures readiness against evolving threats. He did not disclose weapon details, testing status, or deployment timing, citing deterrence concerns.

The announcement marks a shift from years of Pentagon reluctance to discuss orbital warfare publicly. Meink emphasized the space environment’s critical role in military and economic security. The development follows heightened concerns over Russian and Chinese space activities, including Russia’s suspected anti-satellite weapon tests and China’s maneuverable satellites near US assets.

Pentagon officials have recently discussed orbital combat, defensive satellite countermeasures, and ground-based weapons to disable enemy satellites. Meink noted the weapons program likely spanned multiple administrations due to the lengthy development cycle of space technology. The confirmation underscores growing strategic competition in Earth’s orbit.