US Air Force Secretary Confirms Weapons in Space
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed the country has weapons in space. He made the announcement yesterday at a conference in Maryland.
This was the first public confirmation by a US official. Meink did not share the weapons' type or number.
He also did not say when they were deployed. He called them space control weapons.
Reports say these systems may include jamming technology. Their exact abilities remain unknown.
US officials said the weapons are for defense only. Meink said they are needed to counter enemy action.
The Pentagon has been preparing for possible conflict in space. This preparation involves concerns about Russia and China.
The US Space Force calls both countries its top rivals. China urged the US to stop preparing for war in space.
Key Terms 4
- Pentagon The US military's main headquarters and leadership.
- Space Force A branch of the US military focused on space operations.
- space control weapons Weapons meant to control or block enemy activity in space.
- jamming Blocking or disrupting enemy signals or satellite systems.