US Military Confirms It Has Placed Weapons in Earth's Orbit
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SPACE
US Military Confirms It Has Placed Weapons in Earth's Orbit
The United States military has confirmed that it has launched weapons into Earth's orbit. The announcement, which came with remarkably little fanfare given what it actually means, marks a significant and sobering moment in the history of space as a military domain.
Key Takeaways
- The US Department of Defense has confirmed the placement of weapon systems, not just surveillance assets, in Earth's orbit
- The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans weapons of mass destruction in space but does not prohibit conventional weapons
- The US Space Force was established in 2019 to address growing militarisation of space by China and Russia
- Specific details of the systems remain classified, creating strategic ambiguity for rival nations
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