As the list of countries developing both kinetic and nonkinetic space weapons grows, more nations are investing in “bodyguard” capabilities designed to protect and respond to threats against their space assets, according to a new report.
russia space weapon
Russia’s lack of conventional military superiority when compared to the U.S. and the rest of NATO is driving its development of “asymmetric” capabilities like the nuclear anti-satellite weapon that generated headlines earlier this year, multiple Pentagon officials said this week.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John F. Plumb warned lawmakers that Russia is developing an “indiscriminate” nuclear weapon to go in space, confirming reports from several months ago and describing potentially devastating effects in orbit.