US Raises Concerns as Russia Advances Development of Alarming Anti-satellite Weapon

White House spokesperson John Kirby responded to recent statements made by a senior House Republican, who raised concerns about a potential national security threat. Kirby’s comments came a day after the Republican’s vague warnings were issued.

According to a report from CBS News, the weapon is designed to operate in space and is equipped with a nuclear warhead specifically intended for targeting satellites.

However, Mr. Kirby declined to confirm this information and was not forthcoming with specific details regarding the threat on Thursday.

Moscow has accused the US of using alleged new Russian weapons as a tactic to pressure Congress into providing more aid to Ukraine.

Mr. Kirby, who was recently appointed as a top aide to President Joe Biden, informed the press that there is currently no imminent danger to the American public.

“This is not a tool that can be utilized for harming individuals. “or cause physical destruction, here on Earth,” he said.

The intelligence was brought to President Biden’s attention, according to Mr. Kirby, who emphasized that his administration is treating the weapon’s development with great seriousness. He mentioned that the president had already initiated “direct diplomatic engagement with Russia” in response to the threat.

House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Turner raised concerns about a potential national security threat on Wednesday, causing speculation to spread throughout the capital.

On Thursday, Mr. Turner and others from the committee had a meeting with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to delve deeper into the matter.

“After the meeting, Mr. Turner expressed his belief that the administration is treating this matter with great seriousness and has a well-prepared plan,” he stated. “We are excited to provide our support as they move forward with the implementation.”

Space weapons may seem like something out of a science fiction story or a movie, but military experts have been cautioning for a while now that space could become the next battleground in our technology-driven world.

In addition to Mr. Kirby’s remarks, US government officials have not disclosed any specific information regarding the threat.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that the lack of information is deliberate, stating to the press on Wednesday that the United States needs to focus on safeguarding the techniques and resources used by its security agencies to gather intelligence on the matter.

Concerns Grow Over Russia’s Nuclear-Capable Weapon Threat to US Satellites

 

According to reports from The New York Times, ABC, and CBS, there is concern over Russia’s development of a nuclear-capable weapon that has the potential to target US satellites in space.

During a press briefing, Mr. Kirby stated that there is currently no evidence of the weapon being deployed. However, he stressed that the United States is treating the threat with utmost seriousness.

For years, there have been concerns raised by US officials and aerospace experts regarding the development of military capabilities in space by Russia and China, as they strive to keep pace with the US.

Last year, the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report indicating that Russia is working on a variety of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons. One of these weapons, a missile, was tested successfully against an inactive Soviet-era satellite in November 2021.

According to Kari Bingen, a former top Pentagon intelligence official and one of the authors of the report, Russia has employed various tactics, including cyber attacks and jamming, to disrupt satellite communications during its conflict in Ukraine.