US-Russia Space Battle Escalates

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 15, 2024.

The U.S. has launched into orbit a vast satellite system capable of tracking missiles. It coincides with a warning that was issued about Russia’s space and nuclear capabilities and ability to target American satellites.

The system was launched by the Pentagon, hours after Rep. Mike Turner, Republican chair of the U.S. House of Representatives’ intelligence committee, issued a cryptic warning. He said his concerns were related to a Russian space-based nuclear weapon that could potentially be used on satellites, The New York Times reported. Newsweek has contacted the Pentagon and the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment by email.

The prototype named Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, launched this week, is to test a new plan that aims to cover low-Earth orbit with hundreds of satellites. It would work as insurance, should adversaries of the U.S. destroy or disable some of its satellites in space—the remaining units in orbit would allow the system to continue operating.

Citing Pentagon budget documents, U.K. newspaper The Times said nearly $14 billion is being budgeted over the next five years to develop the new system.

In issuing his warning on Wednesday, Turner said the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee “has made available to all members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat.”

“I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat,” Turner said.

On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Turner’s warnings were a malicious fabrication that is intended to encourage Congress to vote on a bill to allocate money.

White House spokesman John Kirby said during a press briefing on Thursday that the U.S. is able to confirm that Turner’s warnings of a serious national security threat is “related to an anti-satellite capability that Russia is developing.”

“This is not an active capability that’s been deployed,” Kirby told reporters, adding that he is limited by how much he is able to share about the specific nature of the threat.

“Though Russia’s pursuit of this particular capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone’s safety,” Kirby said. “We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth. That said, we’ve been closely monitoring this Russian activity and we will continue to take it very seriously.

“President Biden has been kept fully informed and regularly informed by his national security team, including today,” the White House spokesman added. “He has directed a series of initial actions, including additional briefings to congressional leaders, direct diplomatic engagement with Russia, with our allies and our partners as well, and with other countries around the world who have interests at stake.”

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