Sep 15, Kathmandu - The United States has officially acknowledged deploying weapons capable of preventing hostile activities in space, confirming long-standing suspicions. According to the Space Force spokesperson, these are "Anti-Orbit Space Control Weapons" designed to neutralize hostile actions against the US and its allies.

This development comes amidst intensified military competition in space with China and Russia. The Space Force reports that China is rapidly advancing its space and counter-space capabilities as part of its military modernization efforts, while Russia regards space as a vital battlefield for future conflicts.

General Chans Saltzman, head of Space Force operations, stated in July that China is developing space-based weapons capable of identifying and destroying targets, labeling these advancements as a "significant threat" to the US.

Troy Meink, Secretary of the US Air Force, revealed during the "Air, Space, Cyber Conference" on Monday that the US has deliberately made the presence of space-based weapons known for the first time. Recognizing space as critical for military and economic security, Minke emphasized the importance of maintaining independent operational capabilities in orbit.

He referred to the "Space-Based Interceptor" program and "Space-Based Air-Moving Target Indication (SB-AMTI)" system as two key weapon systems in space, with the former being part of President Donald Trump’s "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative. However, Minke declined to disclose further details regarding the systems’ actual capabilities, testing, or deployment.

The number of satellites and debris in Earth's orbit continues to rise, complicating space militarization and increasing risks of orbital collisions and space debris. SpaceX alone operates nearly 11,000 Starlink satellites and plans to launch more in the coming years.