The White House has confirmed that U.S. intelligence officials have information indicating Russia has obtained such a capability, although such a weapon is not yet operational. Termed a nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), the weapon would emit electromagnetic energy and charged particles, disrupting satellites in Earth’s orbit, according to CNN. While experts acknowledge the weapon’s potential to cripple satellite constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink, they also highlight its indiscriminate impact on Russian satellites. If Russia were to deploy a nuclear EMP, it would contravene the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which prohibits placing weapons of mass destruction in space, Biden administration officials said. U.S. officials unanimously believe that even if Russia were to deploy a nuclear weapon in orbit, it would not be detonated.
Source: The Nation February 19, 2024 00:03 UTC