The United States has weapons deployed in orbit, the US Space Force has confirmed for the first time, citing growing threats from Russia and China and the need to defend American military assets in space.

A Space Force spokesperson said the United States possesses “on-orbit space control weapons” capable of defending US forces against hostile actions by adversaries. The statement did not disclose the type, number or location of the weapons.

The Space Force said its space-control capabilities include both kinetic and non-kinetic means designed to affect an adversary’s ability to operate in space. Such capabilities, it added, can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes.

US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink also confirmed the existence of American weapons in space while speaking Monday at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference.

The Space Force pointed specifically to China and Russia as major security concerns. According to the US military, China is developing and operating space and counterspace capabilities as part of its broader military modernization, while Russia regards space as a potential battlefield and considers control of the domain increasingly important to future conflicts.

China strongly criticized the US announcement and called on Washington to halt the expansion of its military capabilities in outer space.

“We urge the US side to stop expanding its military capabilities and preparing for war in outer space,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, warning that such actions could fuel an arms race in space.

The exchange highlights growing international concerns over the militarization of space, where satellites play a crucial role in military communications, navigation, intelligence and surveillance.

The militarization of space is not a new issue. In 1967, the United States, Soviet Union and other countries signed the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit and establishes principles governing the peaceful use of outer space.

However, the treaty does not prohibit all conventional military capabilities in space. In recent decades, the United States, Russia, China and India have developed technologies capable of disrupting, disabling or potentially destroying satellites.