The United States admits it has space offensive weapons, experts warn it may lead to a space arms race

U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said on Monday local time that "the United States now has space control weapons deployed in orbit that can protect joint combat forces and resist the actions of hostile adversaries." This is also the first time so far that the United States has admitted that it has space offensive capabilities. However, this statement has attracted great attention from all walks of life, and some experts have warned that this move may lead to the proliferation of space weapons by other governments.

According to comprehensive media reports, Meynke said at the annual Air, Space and Cyber ​​Conference in Maryland that in order to respond to evolving threats from opponents and enhance space capabilities, the U.S. Air Force has deployed space control weapons in orbit. Although Meynke did not disclose the type of weapon, he emphasized that it can protect joint combat forces before hostile adversaries act. Meynke also said, "Maintaining our advantage in the air and even in space is critical; therefore, we must take measures to ensure that we can respond when threats are faced."

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Meinke also pointed out that space has become an important area of U.S. military and economic security. Over the past decade, adversaries such as China and Russia have been developing capabilities to threaten U.S. systems, and emphasized that "we need to maintain space superiority because space is becoming increasingly important to the way we operate - whether in the military, economic or civilian fields."

However, Meink refused to disclose the type and specific performance of the weapon, and did not explain after the meeting why he chose to release this news at this time. Meinke called his wording "crucial from a deterrence perspective" and said further details "would not be helpful in deterrence."

Clayton Swope, deputy director of the space security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American think tank, pointed out that space control may occur in space or on the earth, including attacking satellite ground stations or interfering with satellite communications. However, Swope believes that Meink's statement is "too vague" and cannot have a real deterrent effect on China and Russia. They need a clearer understanding of the weapon's destructive potential and what lines must be crossed for the United States to use it.

Victoria Samson, director of space security at the Secure World Foundation, said that due to the U.S. policy direction of avoiding the creation of space debris, the weapon is likely to be a space jammer. However, she also warned that if China or Russia admitted to possessing similar weapons, Meink's statement might be counterproductive, weaken the deterrent effect, and even form a vicious cycle. "Sooner or later, someone will use one of these weapons."

Sam Lair, a researcher at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, also pointed out that Meink's remarks may become "public opinion ammunition" for U.S. adversaries to endorse existing or emerging anti-space programs.