US confirms weapons in orbit: new global space war about to begin?

The United States has officially acknowledged that it has placed space control weapons in orbit, raising fears that the move could spark a new arms race beyond Earth and draw other major powers into a battle for dominance in space.

In today’s episode of DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, takes an in-depth look at the growing race for military dominance in space, the strategic importance of satellites, space weapons development and emerging competition for resources like minerals and water beyond Earth.

The recognition of the US Space Force was the first official confirmation that Washington has placed weapons directly in orbit. US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink revealed the information during a speech, after which a US Space Force spokesman provided written details to the media. However, the US did not disclose what weapons were deployed.

Space control weapons include military systems designed to protect a country’s satellites, communications and navigation capabilities, and enable it to disable or destroy an enemy’s space assets if necessary.

So far, the US has mainly discussed anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) launched from Earth. However, the latest disclosure points to the weapon being placed directly in orbit.

This development comes as China and Russia expand their counterspace capabilities. Russia is believed to be working on nuclear anti-satellite weapons, and China has developed robotic grabber satellites capable of approaching other spacecraft and potentially hijacking them or changing their orbits.

The US move is also seen as an attempt to signal to its rivals that it is prepared to respond to threats in space. At the same time, Washington is seeking to strengthen its position in shaping international rules governing space and to gain political support for increased spending on space defense.

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the placement in orbit of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. However, it does not clearly cover conventional weapons, lasers, or cyber capabilities.

So the latest US announcement could encourage other space powers, including China, Russia and India, to accelerate the development of their own capabilities. Increased military activity in orbit could also worsen the space debris problem.

Modern military operations rely heavily on satellites. GPS and other satellite systems support missiles, drones and fighter jets, while military communications depend on satellites to connect troops with their headquarters.

Intelligence and early warning satellites can also detect military movements and missile launches. Thus, destroying or disabling key satellites early in a conflict can significantly reduce an adversary’s military capabilities.

As a result, countries are developing a range of technologies, including lasers, jammers, anti-satellite systems and cyber capabilities. Smaller “bodyguard satellites” are also being considered or deployed to protect larger spacecraft.

Space is increasingly seen as another important domain of warfare, along with land, sea, air and cyberspace.

The US is also preparing for a long-term expansion of its space capabilities. President Donald Trump has announced plans to create a separate US Space Academy that will train specialists for the Space Force, NASA and the civilian space industry.

The proposed academy would train cadets in areas such as space warfare, satellite protection, moving equipment and resources in space, and missions to the Moon and Mars.

Trump also said that NASA has begun work on a nuclear-powered spacecraft, with a mission to Mars planned for 2028.

Nuclear propulsion could potentially shorten the travel time between Earth and Mars, which could take seven to nine months using a conventional propulsion system. A shorter trip could reduce astronauts’ exposure to cosmic radiation and reduce the amount of food, water, oxygen and other supplies they need to carry.

The technology could also give spacecraft greater flexibility in changing their orbit or direction, although developing such systems remains a major technological challenge.

China remains one of America’s biggest competitors in space. Beijing demonstrated its anti-satellite capabilities in 2007 and has developed satellites such as Shijian-21 that can approach other satellites and potentially change their orbits.

Russia demonstrated its anti-satellite capabilities in 2021 by destroying one of its satellites. US intelligence agencies have also said that Russia is seeking to develop nuclear weapons that could be used in space. A nuclear explosion in orbit could generate powerful electromagnetic energy that could damage the electronic systems of nearby satellites.

India demonstrated its own anti-satellite capabilities in 2019 through the Shakti mission and created a Defense Space Agency to protect its space assets and strengthen its military space capabilities.

The competition is not limited to military capabilities. Major financial institutions Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have estimated that by 2040 the global space economy could exceed $1 trillion.

Countries and companies are increasingly looking to the Moon and asteroids for resources including water, platinum, nickel and other minerals.

Water extracted from icy deposits could potentially be processed to produce oxygen and hydrogen fuel, creating refueling points for spacecraft and reducing the need to transport supplies from Earth.

One of the most discussed targets is 16 Psyche, an asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter. The country’s value of iron, nickel and gold is estimated to be several thousand times the size of the global economy, although such estimates are theoretical and do not reflect the wealth currently being extracted.

The prospect of space mining has also fueled speculation that the sector could eventually produce the first trillion-dollar man.

In 2015, the United States passed a law allowing American companies to own resources extracted from space. NASA’s Artemis program is focused on the moon’s south pole, including studying ice and other resources.

China is conducting lunar exploration as part of its Chang’e program and, together with Russia, has proposed the creation of an International Lunar Research Station.

The UAE has also planned a mission to the asteroid belt, and Japan has already demonstrated asteroid sample return technology through its Hayabusa missions.

Private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are also working on technologies that could support lower-cost robotic mining operations.

Growing interest in space resources has raised a complex legal question: who owns minerals mined on the Moon or an asteroid?

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits countries from claiming sovereignty or ownership of the Moon and other celestial bodies. However, it does not clearly resolve the issue of ownership of the resources extracted from them.

The United States, Japan and Luxembourg have passed laws allowing individuals to claim rights to resources obtained from space. The US “Artemis Accords” also provide for security zones around certain activities, a concept that China and Russia have criticized as potentially paving the way for resource control.

Meanwhile, developing countries argue that space should remain a shared resource for humanity and that its benefits should not be limited to countries that have the money and technology to achieve it.

There is currently no international body capable of physically enforcing borders or preventing competing claims to space resources.

As countries race to develop the technologies needed to operate beyond Earth, competition occurs on two fronts—control of strategic space assets and access to vast resources that may ultimately lie beyond our planet.