US confirms for first time it has deployed space weapons
The US Air Force Secretary says the weapons are necessary to defend the country against enemy action.
The US has confirmed it deployed a space weapon in Earth's orbit, the first time it has acknowledged such offensive capabilities.
US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said the "on orbit" weapon was necessary to safeguard US forces against hostile enemy action.
Speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Monday, Meink said the US was ready for "evolving threats", but did not elaborate on the weapon's capabilities or when it was put into orbit.
The US Space Force - the newest branch of the US military in more than 70 years - was launched in 2019 as a way to protect American assets in space, including hundreds of satellites used for communication and surveillance.