A senior Pentagon official claimed that Russia is working on a new satellite that has the potential to endanger other satellites by carrying a nuclear device.

John Plumb, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, informed lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Strategic Forces about Russia's military plans.

Pentagon Says Russia Develops Anti-Satellite Nuclear Weapon

When questioned about the possible consequences of such a weapon, Plumb mentioned that the radiation from a nuclear detonation could make low-Earth orbit, a frequently used orbit for satellites, unusable for a significant time, potentially up to a year.

According to Plumb, determining the exact impact of a weapon is challenging due to variations in the size of a nuclear explosion. 

However, he mentioned that a preliminary evaluation indicates that satellites lacking protection against a nuclear explosion in space, which applies to most satellites, could suffer damage and disruption. 

Additionally, some satellites may be directly impacted by the initial blast. Plumb's remarks mark the inaugural occasion where the Biden administration addresses the possibility of Russian anti-satellite capability in a public congressional hearing.

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Russia's New Satellite Raises Global Security Concerns

According to Plumb's written testimony to lawmakers, Russia is currently working on an anti-satellite capability causing concern. 

The Washington Examiner reported that this capability is tied to a new satellite being developed that is said to carry a nuclear device. 

This capability has the potential to endanger satellites operated by various countries and companies worldwide, as well as the essential services we rely on, such as communications, science, meteorology, agriculture, commerce, and national security.

Plumb informed the lawmakers of Pentagon officials' deep concern regarding the possibility of Russia deploying a nuclear weapon in space. 

Such a weapon "would be indiscriminate" disregarding national boundaries and posing a threat to military, civilian, and commercial satellites alike, the officials said.

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