{"id":68017,"date":"2020-07-23T21:47:36","date_gmt":"2020-07-23T21:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/23\/us-accuses-russia-of-testing-anti-satellite-weapon-in-space\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:39:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:39:30","slug":"us-accuses-russia-of-testing-anti-satellite-weapon-in-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/07\/23\/us-accuses-russia-of-testing-anti-satellite-weapon-in-space\/","title":{"rendered":"US accuses Russia of testing anti-satellite weapon in space"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The United States accused Russia on Thursday of conducting a test of an anti-satellite weapon in space, asserting that it exposed Moscow\u2019s intent to deploy weapons that threaten U.S. and allied satellites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Moscow, the Defense Ministry said the July 15 event involved \u201ca small space vehicle\u201d that \u201cinspected one of the national satellites from a close distance using special equipment.\u201d It added that the inspection \u201cprovided valuable information about the object that was inspected, which was transmitted to the ground-based control facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S., however, said the Russian actions were inconsistent with the stated mission of an inspector satellite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Russian satellite system used to conduct this on-orbit weapons test is the same satellite system that we raised concerns about earlier this year, when Russia maneuvered near a U.S. government satellite,\u201d said Gen. John W. Raymond, commander of Space Command and the head of U.S. Space Force<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is further evidence of Russia\u2019s continuing efforts to develop and test space-based systems, and consistent with the Kremlin\u2019s published military doctrine to employ weapons that hold U.S. and allied space assets at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t