US military acknowledges deployment of on-orbit space weapons

The US military confirms its deployment of

weapons into space.

This according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink in the

first public acknowledgement of its kind.

"Today we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist," he tells

the crowd at an annual gathering hosted by the Air & Space Forces Association in Maryland.

He goes on to say the US now has on-orbit space control weapons "capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary actions," without providing specifics on the weapons.