MOSCOW, RUSSIA – The United States intelligence has found evidence that Russia is working on developing a nuclear space weapon that could potentially cripple a vast number of commercial and government satellites, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The weapon would create a massive energy wave when detonated, posing a serious threat to the satellites that are vital for communication, navigation, and other essential activities.
Although the US government has been aware of Russia’s efforts, the detailed understanding provided by the sources to CNN has raised concerns about the potential impact of the weapon. President Joe Biden publicly confirmed that Republican Rep. Mike Turner’s statement about a “serious national security threat” referred to Russia’s new nuclear anti-satellite capability.
Despite the Biden administration’s emphasis that the weapon is still under development and not yet in orbit, officials are wary of the dangerous implications it could have. Russian efforts to develop a broad range of anti-satellite weapons, including an EMP, have been under the watchful eye of the Defense Department and the intelligence community for years.
While the weapon has not been fully developed, the potential disruption it could cause to everyday life and the impact it could have on satellite operations has raised alarms among experts. The technology could potentially render large portions of particular orbits unusable, posing a significant challenge for the operation and maintenance of satellites.
There are concerns about the weapon’s potential impact on GPS and nuclear command and control satellites as well as mega constellations of small satellites, such as SpaceX’s Starlink. The importance and sensitivity of the intelligence have prompted a scramble within the intelligence community to preserve its access and further assess the implications of this new technology.