The New Logic Of Space Warfare - Analysis

The United States has publicly acknowledged deploying “on-orbit space control weapons,” signaling a shift as space becomes a direct arena of warfare. The Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but does not prohibit conventional weapons. The U.S. disclosure, made in mid-September by Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, did not specify what the systems are, only that they can defend the Joint Force and use both kinetic and non-kinetic means in line with international law. Counterspace capabilities, including lasers, jamming, cyber attacks, and rendezvous-proximity operations, are being developed by at least 13 countries. Large LEO constellations like Starlink—about 70% of low-Earth satellites—are difficult to disable.