U.S. Confirms Weapon In Orbit: Is Space Becoming The Next Battlefield?

The U.S. has publicly acknowledged an “on-orbit” space-control weapon for the first time, but Washington has not revealed its launch details or capabilities. The US Space Force says its space-control arsenal includes kinetic and non-kinetic systems designed to counter hostile action. That could involve physically destroying a satellite or disrupting it through methods such as jamming, lasers or cyber capabilities. The development comes as the US, Russia and China expand their counterspace capabilities. China has urged Washington to oppose the weaponisation of space. With satellites powering GPS, communications, surveillance, finance and weather services, a conflict in orbit could have consequences far beyond the battlefield.