According to various sources familiar with the information, the US has fresh intelligence on Russian military capabilities related to its ambitions to place a nuclear anti-satellite system in orbit. Congress and significant US allies were told about the material, and some politicians believe it is severe enough to be declassified and made public. Even though the intelligence is alarming, on Wednesday several high-ranking Congressmen were briefed on the details. They made it clear that neither the US nor its interests were in immediate danger.
Three US officials who are familiar with the intelligence say that the system is still under construction and has not yet been launched into orbit.
How far technology has advanced is unclear, according to one of the authorities. CNN was informed by a different US official that the threat does not include a weapon that could be used to attack people. Whether the intelligence alluded to a nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered anti-satellite capability was not immediately apparent. Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. Stated that an anti-satellite weapon was placed in orbit around Earth.
Would pose a serious threat to US nuclear command and control satellites, even though members of Congress downplayed the urgency of the situation. He referred to these satellites as “essential” because the US depends on them to maintain steady. Uninterrupted supervision over its nuclear weapons. Although other nations have conducted anti-satellite missile tests in the past. This would be a step forward, according to Kristensen, and the US has stated that it would respond to an attack. On its nuclear command and control satellites “very forcefully.”
“Whether it’s nuclear or not, if it’s orbital, it’s a new level of threat [to the system],
” Kristensen stated, adding that even conventional weapons on an orbiting anti-satellite system might be a danger to the United States. The intelligence linked to a Russian space-based nuclear capability was first reported by ABC News. Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, started a tempest on Capitol Hill earlier on Wednesday when he revealed in a cryptic statement that the panel had “information concerning a serious national security threat.”
He tied the intelligence to a “destabilizing foreign military capability that should be known by all congressional policymakers”. In a letter to members inviting them to view the information in the committee’s secret facilities. Lawmakers immediately started stomping down to the House basement to find out what information was available. A few were not impressed. A Democratic member with extensive experience in national security claimed that they had never. Before received such a pressing call regarding a national security issue while serving in Congress and that the information. They were presented with upon arrival was insufficiently urgent to warrant Turner’s alarmist claims.
Within hours, House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson,
A Republican, made an effort to defuse the crisis by telling reporters that “there is no cause for alarm” and claiming to have been aware of the intelligence since at least January. “We just want to make sure that everyone is driving with steady hands. There’s no need to panic; we’re working on it,” Johnson stated. “The classified intelligence product that the House Intelligence Committee called to the attention of Members last night is a significant one. But it is not a cause for panic,” stated a statement from the committee’s top Democrat, Representative Jim Himes.
The national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, expressed his surprise on Wednesday. That Turner had revealed the intelligence’s existence to the public. He said that Sullivan had previously planned to brief Himes, Turner. And the top Republican and Democratic House leaders on Thursday. “We have a scheduled briefing for the Gang of Eight House members tomorrow,” Sullivan said. That was noted. That’s why I was surprised to see Congressman Turner make his public debut today before our planned book meeting, where I’ll be seated with our defense and intelligence specialists tomorrow.
Turner made the following claim in his letter to the Biden administration:
“All information relating to this threat should be declassified so that Congress. The Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat.” The Republican and Democratic heads of the Senate Intelligence Committee, meanwhile. Indicated in a joint statement that while they had been monitoring the information, it would be challenging to declassify it without disclosing confidential sources and procedures.
The $60 billion aid plan meant to help Ukraine battle Russia has stagnated in the House, and former President Donald Trump has been openly endorsing GOP members. Who reject the program, which has led to controversy over the new intelligence. In recent days, Trump has also declared that he would support Russia in doing “whatever the hell they want” to NATO partners. Who fail to reach defense spending targets set by the alliance. Johnson has declared that he will not introduce the aid bill approved by the Senate.
Turner, meanwhile, has openly backed keeping money flowing to the military effort in Ukraine.
In private, a few legislators and US officials conjectured that his endeavor to apprise members of the intelligence. As approved by the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday evening, may potentially be an endeavor to bolster diminishing backing for Ukraine. Sources declined to elaborate on the intelligence or the capabilities described by Russia. However, a 2022 Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment on space security claims. That Russia has been pursuing counter-space systems for years to neutralize US military and commercial space capabilities.
According to Russian doctrine, one should be able to use strikes ranging from short-term jamming to destruction. To target an enemy’s satellites from the ground, the air, space, and cyberspace. Russia tested a space-based anti-satellite weapon in 2020. That was capable of attacking enemy satellites in addition to servicing and inspecting friendly satellites due to its advanced orbital capabilities. A nuclear-tipped anti-satellite system would violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Which states unequivocally that “any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction” are not allowed to be in orbit. More developments have been added to this story and headline.
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