Russia developing space-based weapon: US

Al Jazeera :
Russia is developing a space-based anti-satellite weapon that is “troubling” but poses no immediate threat, the White House has said.

National security spokesman John Kirby said US intelligence officials had information that Russia had developed the technology but that the weapon was not currently operational.

He said US officials were analysing the information they had and consulting with allies in Europe.

“This is not an active capability that’s been deployed, and though Russia’s pursuit of this particular capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone’s safety,” Kirby said on Thursday.

He confirmed the weapon was “space-based” but would not comment on reports in US media that it was either nuclear-capable or nuclear-powered.

“We’re not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth,” he said.

Moscow downplayed the US claims, describing them as a “malicious fabrication” that were a White House ploy to try and secure the passage of a multibillion-dollar Ukrainian aid package through a resistant Republican-led House of Representatives.