Russia Deploys Satellite with Potential to Disable U.S. Spacecraft

The U.S. government has officially announced that Russia has launched a low-orbit satellite capable of attacking other satellites.

During a briefing on the 21st, the U.S. Department of Defense stated, “Russia launched a satellite into orbit on the 16th, suspected to be a Counterspace Weapon capable of targeting other satellites.” On the day of the launch, Russia also issued two Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), indicating the possibility of launching space weapons.

The space weapon Russia launched is reported to have settled in the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite. Pat Ryder, a spokesman for the Department of Defense, stated, “It is assessed to have characteristics similar to those of payloads carried by anti-satellite (ASAT) systems deployed in 2019 and 2022.” He added, “We cannot provide specific information about the payloads.” When asked if there had been any communication with Russia regarding the new satellite launch, he replied, “We are not aware of any communication.”

The first claim of such an act was made on the 19th when Robert Wood, U.S. deputy director of Communications and Spokesperson at the U.S. Missions to the United Nations, said, “Russia may have launched an anti-satellite weapon capable of attacking U.S. satellites last week.” Wood criticized Russia during his pre-vote statement at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on space security, stating that by revealing this fact, Russia directly contradicts its claim to pursue safety in space. CNN also reported, citing Defense Department officials, that the U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Space Command had been tracking Russia’s satellite launch for at least several weeks.

This is not the first time Russia has launched an anti-space weapon designed to disable or destroy satellites. Russia previously launched space weapons in 2019 and 2022. According to CNN, the space weapons launched by Russia are equipped with nuclear weapons. They can not only destroy surrounding satellites by causing a massive energy wave when they explode but also turn off commercial and government satellites used for cell phones and the internet. In April, the U.S. and Japan jointly submitted a UNSC resolution urging the cessation of the development of space-based nuclear weapons, but Russia vetoed it.