U.S. general warns Russia may be developing nuclear anti-satellite weapon in orbit

Gen. Stephen N. Whiting said the U.S. is "very concerned" that Russia may be developing a nuclear anti-satellite weapon in orbit; he warned such a weapon would violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and could put satellites that support communications and GPS at risk.

Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, said the U.S. is "very concerned" that Russia may be developing a nuclear weapon in orbit designed to target satellites. He made the remarks on a weekly podcast and noted that such a move would violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Whiting highlighted how dependent modern life is on space-based systems for communications and navigation. He did not confirm underlying intelligence but emphasized the seriousness of the report. Reported details: - Whiting said reports indicate Russia may be considering placing a nuclear anti-satellite weapon in low Earth orbit, and he described that possibility as a serious concern while stopping short of confirming intelligence sources or methods. - He said a nuclear event in low Earth orbit could put satellites at risk and disrupt communications, GPS and some aviation services that rely on those systems. - Whiting made the comments on The General & The Journalist podcast; Fox News Digital reached out to the Pentagon for comment, and officials have not publicly confirmed the reported activity. Summary: Gen. Whiting's remarks underline official concern about reports that Russia may be developing a nuclear anti-satellite capability, which would be at odds with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and could affect satellites that support everyday services. Undetermined at this time.