According to Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Russia launched what seems to be a counter-space weapon last week, which is now in the same orbit as a US government satellite.
“What I’m tracking here is that on May 16, as you highlighted, Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we assess is likely a counter-space weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit,” Ryder said when questioned by ABC News about the information, which was made public earlier Tuesday by Robert Wood, deputy US ambassador to the UN.
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“Russia deployed this new counterspace weapon into the same orbit as a U.S. government satellite,” Ryder went on. “And so assessments further indicate characteristics resembling previously deployed counterspace payloads from 2019 and 2022.”
“Obviously, that’s something that we’ll continue to monitor,” Ryder said. “Certainly, we believe it is our job to be prepared to guard and defend the space domain, as well as to provide constant and uninterrupted support to the joint and combined forces. “We will continue to strike a balance between protecting our space interests and maintaining a stable and sustainable space environment.”
When asked if the Russian counter-space weapon was a threat to the US satellite, Ryder replied, “Well, it’s a counter-space weapon in the same orbit as a US government satellite.”
While there are rules for providing advance air and sea warnings for space launches, Ryder refused to address whether the US knew in advance that the launch contained a specific type of counterspace weapon.
