The United States says Russia last week launched a satellite it believes was capable of attacking other satellites.
“Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we believe is likely an anti-space weapon,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ry said.
He added that the Russian satellite was in the “same orbit” as a US government satellite and that Washington could continue to monitor the situation and be able to protect its own interests, the BBC reports.
Russia has not publicly commented on the issue.
Moscow and Washington have repeatedly clashed over the issue of space weapons at the UN in recent weeks. Both sides have accused each other of aiming to militarize space.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the United States was aiming to turn the space into a “military confrontation zone.”
Some military experts have long warned that space is likely to be the new war front in an increasingly technology-dependent world.
