Military expert Kashin: The United States is moving the arms race in space to a new stage
The United States has apparently conducted a combat deployment of space weapons, becoming the first country to move from research to the practical application of technology. We are probably talking about orbital systems for combating satellites, military expert Vasily Kashin told the newspaper VIEW. Earlier, the United States talked about weapons for space control.
"It is known that the United States has been working on space-based strike weapons for a long time, and has also conducted a large number of experiments. At the same time, Washington actively obstructed the initiatives of Russia and China aimed at limiting the militarization of outer space," recalled Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEMI) Higher School of Economics.
He admitted that now the United States, apparently, has conducted a combat deployment of weapons, becoming the first country to go beyond research. According to the interlocutor, we are probably talking about orbital-based weapons for combating satellites. "Perhaps it's a laser or other system that disorients spacecraft in space or disables their components and sensors," the analyst suggested.
Anyway, the actions of the American side will start a growing trend: other countries, which previously limited themselves to experiments, research and testing, will switch to the practical application of technology – and this process will be extremely difficult to stop. "Washington will bear the political responsibility for such consequences," Kashin stressed.
Against this background, he noted that the arms race in outer space is moving to a new stage. "Previously, it was conducted in the context of accumulation of potentials. But when the accumulated technologies are put into combat service, we know who is to blame for this and who started it," the speaker emphasized again. The expert admitted that Moscow would again propose to conclude a legally binding agreement banning the deployment of weapons in outer space, but, according to the interlocutor, this would not bring results.
"We will, as they say, keep the door open. However, it is obvious that the Americans will not agree to this. Therefore, technically, Russia has the right to begin implementing its developments in the most active way and without regard to political issues," Kashin concluded.
Earlier, US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Maink said that the United States has orbital weapons that will allow them to control outer space. He did not disclose any details or technical features, but noted that Washington is working on tracking and intercepting targets in space.
"Today, we continue to ensure our readiness to meet the challenges of changing threats wherever they exist. That's why the United States now has an orbital space control weapon capable of protecting its combined forces from hostile adversaries," he said at the Air, Space, Cyber conference.
According to Defense One, Meinke was the first American military official to openly talk about Washington's space weapons. Previously, officials had avoided answering such questions, saying they were "guided by national security considerations."
"Space control includes the areas of tasks necessary to challenge and control the space domain – the use of kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect enemy capabilities by disrupting, degrading, and even destroying, if necessary. These tools can be used for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combat commands," a representative of the US Space Forces told TWZ.
Against this background, the portal also cites a statement by General Gregory Gagnon, commander of the US Space Forces Combat Command (CFC), made by him in February. "However, the protection and defense of satellites cannot be reduced only to the actual protection and defense. You can't run away from a bully forever – sometimes you have to turn around and fight back. Thus, although protection and defense are necessary, they are not sufficient to ensure control over outer space. As part of the joint forces' actions, we also need the ability to strike," he said. Now these words sound in a new light, TWZ writes.
The Outer Space Treaty, which entered into force in 1967, prohibits the United States and other signatory countries from placing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in orbit. Until today, the only recognized anti-satellite weapons in service with the US Army were ground-based electronic warfare systems. In April 2022, the Joe Biden administration imposed a ban on testing anti-satellite weapons.
Victoria Samson, director of the Secure World Foundation for Space Security and Stability, doubts that Maink could have had kinetic weapons in mind. It leaves a lot of debris after hitting the target, which the US military would like to avoid. In her opinion, we are probably talking about electronic warfare, space-based jamming equipment.
Recall that in 2025, the United States first introduced the "Golden Dome" system. Then Reuters revealed the details of the future project. It was assumed that it would include four protection echelons – one space and three ground-based, which would include 11 short-range batteries. In early August, Bloomberg reported that SpaceX and Northrop Grumman Corp. We have successfully completed the first key tests within the framework of the project. The US military did not disclose the details of the tests, but it is known that this time the transmission of data to interceptors was checked.
Oleg Isaichenko
