Russia is reportedly developing a nuclear weapon designed to be deployed in space that could cripple global communications and cause widespread disruption.
General Stephen Whiting, head of U.S. Space Command, has admitted that Washington is “very concerned” about plans to place a nuclear anti-satellite weapon into orbit.
“They are thinking about placing in orbit a nuclear anti-satellite weapon that would hold at risk everyone’s satellites in low Earth orbit, and that would be an outcome that we just couldn’t tolerate,” Whiting said.
Watch the clip below:
Space Pearl Harbor: @US_SpaceCom Commander Gen. Whiting warns Russia may put a NUCLEAR weapon in low Earth orbit.
Just one detonation in space could cripple 80% of the global satellite network and plunge the world in chaos.
“That’s an outcome we just can’t tolerate.” pic.twitter.com/gnz9bI0GBx
— POLARIS National Security (@PolarisNatSec) April 17, 2026
The weapon could be used to destroy large numbers of satellites in low Earth orbit, potentially taking out communications systems, GPS networks and parts of the global internet.
A detonation in orbit could damage or destroy up to 10,000 satellites, roughly 80 percent of those currently in space.
Russia plans to deploy a nuclear weapon in orbit capable of disabling up to 80% of all satellites in space, The Times reports
The head of the US Space Command noted that this could disrupt military intelligence, communications, the internet, mobile communications, and GPS… pic.twitter.com/9G5lqIVflc
— THE TRADESMAN (@The_Tradesman1) April 17, 2026
Officials have described the potential attack as a “space Pearl Harbor.”
Whiting said the threat forms part of a broader pattern of Russian activity in space, including widespread GPS and satellite communication jamming.
“The problem with GPS jamming is it’s being done in a way that’s affecting civil aviation in eastern Europe and across southern Europe,” he said.
“When we put at risk civilian airliners full of citizens just trying to go on business or holiday, that’s incredibly problematic.”
The general said Russia is seeking ways to counter what it sees as Western military advantages by targeting space-based systems.
“They look at the United States, they look at NATO and they see an overmatch there of conventional arms,” Whiting said.
“And they believe that novel ways of trying to undermine the United States and Nato, such as by neutralising our space capabilities, helps them to level the battlefield.”
The proposed weapon would violate the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits placing nuclear weapons in orbit.
U.S. officials have been aware of the threat for at least two years, with intelligence first briefed to Congress in 2024.
Whiting warned that space is increasingly becoming a central domain for future conflict.
“The next big war will likely be a war that starts in space,” he said.
He also urged allies to increase defence spending in the sector, noting that Britain currently spends less than one percent of its defence budget on space capabilities.
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