From ZeroHedge: Air Force Secretary Admits US Has Weapons Deployed In Space
During a recent conference, the Secretary of the Air Force, Troy Meink, confirmed that the United States has deployed weapons in space. This announcement, made on September 14 at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual conference in National Harbor, Maryland, marks the first official confirmation by the U.S. Armed Forces regarding the presence of such armaments.
Confirmation of Space-Based Weaponry
In his keynote address, titled “Advancing Combat Power in Air and Space,” Secretary Meink stated, “Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist. This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary actions.”
This admission addresses a long-standing global debate and concern that has persisted since the launch of Sputnik in 1957. Despite the significant nature of his statement, Meink did not provide further details on the specific nature or current status of these weapons, reiterating that the phrase used was “very well thought out.”
Maintaining Space Dominance
Meink elaborated on the critical need to maintain U.S. space capabilities and deter threats from unnamed, growing adversaries. He emphasized, “Our maintaining and being able to count on those space capabilities is important, and as everybody knows, there have been many who have developed capabilities to take those away from us, to threaten those things. So it is critically important that we maintain our dominance not only in the air but in space.”
“So, we’ve had to take steps to make sure that when we’re threatened, we can take care of that.”
— Secretary Troy Meink
Space Warfighting Framework
The United States Space Force’s 2025 space warfighting framework defines “Space Control” as a core function aimed at achieving space superiority. This framework outlines activities necessary to contest and control the space domain, including:
- Counterspace Operations: These encompass offensive orbital strikes and terrestrial strikes.
- Space Link Interdiction: Defined as actions to disrupt, deny, or degrade an enemy’s critical space links through non-kinetic means like electromagnetic or cyberattacks.
- Defensive Actions: Both active and passive measures, including threat warning and counterattack capabilities.
Secretary Meink also highlighted the Space-Based Interceptor Program, currently under development as part of President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense system. He reaffirmed the fundamental mission: “Defend the homeland, deter all adversaries, and, if necessary, win in combat.”
Adapting to a Changing Landscape
Acknowledging the rapid evolution of the warfighting environment, from the proliferation of one-way attack drones to the deployment of artificial intelligence, Meink stressed the importance of innovation and cost-effectiveness.
“Today we face a mix of rapidly changing technologies and adversaries moving aggressively to employ them. If we expect to deter our adversaries, we must increase our combat power, innovate faster than anyone else, affordably. We need cost-effective combat power.”
— Secretary Troy Meink
Source: ZeroHedge
