US says for 1st time it now has weapons in space. What we know (so far)

US notes for 1st time it now has weapons in space.

Key points

• Meink's announcement came during an annual gathering hosted by the Air & Space Forces Association in National Harbor, Maryland, according to a press release from the Air Force.
• To backing more than 1, 000 launches and reentries per year by 2030.
• Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed the on-orbit space control weapons at a conference Monday, Sept.
• "Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist, " Meink remarked Monday, Sept.
• The comments come as President Donald Trump has created clear that U.S.

US notes for 1st time it now has weapons in space. What we know (so far) Air Force Secretary Troy Meink became the first U.S. Official to publicly announce that the military has deployed weapons to space. Eric Lagatta USA TODAY. US weapons deployed in space: What to know.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink remarked the U.S. Has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed the on-orbit space control weapons at a conference Monday, Sept. 14.

Meanwhile, the revelation is seen as a message of deterrence to adversaries like China and Russia.

President Donald Trump has created U.S. Superiority in space a top priority of his administration.

For context, the U.S. Has confirmed in a landmark revelation that the nation has deployed operational weapons in space.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink became the first U.S. Official to publicly acknowledge the orbital defense capability in what is widely being interpreted as a clear message of deterrence to both China and Russia.

"Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist, " Meink remarked Monday, Sept. 14, in prepared remarks at the annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference. "This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action."

Notably, the comments come as President Donald Trump has created clear that U.S. Superiority in space is one of his top priorities for the United States.

Here's what we know so far regarding the weapons the U.S. Has in orbit. Rocket launches: US space boom is outgrowing rocket launch sites.

Air Force official confirms US has weapons in space in major 1st.

While Meink did not provide specifics on the weapons or when they were deployed to orbit, the news alone marked a significant moment against the backdrop of a time of global conflict. China and Russia, furthermore, have continued to remain powerful adversaries seemingly racing with the U.S. To expand military might to space.

"It is critically important that we maintain our dominance not only in the air but in space, and so we've had to take steps to make sure that when we're threatened, we can take care of that, " Meink remarked at the conference. Trump administration highlights space superiority as priority for US.

Trump has created it a priority of his second administration to bolster U.S. Superiority in space.

For example, a new policy Trump signed Aug. 20 calls for the U.S. To backing more than 1, 000 launches and reentries per year by 2030. When regarding 200 rockets secure off the ground per year, session the ambitious benchmark would mean that launches – numerous of which are to deploy military payload to orbit – would more than quadruple from today.

As well as upgrades to existing spaceports where rockets already lift off, to accomplish the lofty objective, the Trump administration calls for the development of more launch sites throughout the U.S.

Additionally lately, the Department of Transportation proposed at the end of July to exempt commercial space launch licensing from plenty of environmental regulations. The proposal, authorities stated, builds on the groundwork Trump laid in August 2025 when he signed an executive order meant to create it easier and quicker for commercial providers like SpaceX to obtain licenses to launch rockets.

Trump signed an executive order in December emphasizing the importance of developing "next-generation missile defense technologies." Such capabilities would appear to go hand in hand with the Trump administration's planned "Golden Dome" missile defense system. Trump establishes Space Force, Space Command.

Trump has additionally repeatedly touted the establishment of the the U.S. Space Force in 2019 during his first term as a significant step in strengthening the nation's military dominance in orbit.

That's the same year Trump additionally moved to reestablish the U.S. Space Command, which is responsible for military operations beyond Earth's atmosphere – including defending U.S. Satellites from potential threats. Space Command, which is responsible for conducting military operations, is separate from the U.S. Space Force – a service branch of the military, like the Army or Navy, according to the Department of Defense.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, US says for 1st time it now has weapons in space. What remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.