US Intel says Russia mulling nuclear weapons for space, NSA Sullivan to meet 'Gang of Eight' lawmakers after threat

US intelligence has indicated that Russia is contemplating the deployment of a nuclear weapon in space, according to a report, citing people familiar with the matter. According to a Bloomberg report, the revelation surfaced subsequent to a public caution from a leading House Republican about an undisclosed national security peril. In a cryptic public statement, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, said, “Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat.”

Statement from Chairman @RepMikeTurner: pic.twitter.com/OA9yJuEPlf

— House Intelligence Committee (@HouseIntel) February 14, 2024

“I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the administration, and are allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat,” added Turner. The potential threat highlighted by US intelligence remains inactive, and as per the Bloomberg report, citing people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity, Russia has not yet launched any nuclear weapon into space. Although the assessments carry weight, US officials are approaching the issue seriously, assuring that there is currently no urgent need for public concern, added the report. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that he would convene with the US House contingent of the “Gang of Eight” congressional leaders on Thursday. Notably, the meeting had been arranged prior to Turner’s cryptic public statement issued on Wednesday. The Gang of Eight is a colloquial term for a set of eight leaders within the United States Congress who are briefed on classified intelligence matters by the executive branch. Numerous American media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and broadcasters ABC and Fox News, previously covered recent intelligence concerning Russia’s endeavors to create a space-based antisatellite nuclear weapon. Officials, both current and former, clarified that the nuclear weapon was not yet deployed in orbit. The decision by Turner to disclose the matter publicly, without providing full details, sparked concern among officials in Washington. This incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza, which are profoundly influencing the United States. Sullivan opted not to specify the agenda of Thursday’s meeting or address Turner’s characterisation of the national security issue. “I’m not in a position to say anything further today,” Bloomberg quoted Sullivan as saying. The establishment of the US Space Force in 2019 was primarily driven by the escalating threat in space, which is evolving rapidly. Much of this threat stems from the advanced capabilities already possessed by China and Russia, which can disrupt crucial satellite-based US communications, including GPS and early missile detection systems. In recent times, both China and Russia have actively pursued various methods to interfere with satellites, such as jamming signals, intercepting feeds, impairing functionality, launching attacks, and potentially even physically manipulating satellites with robotic arms to alter their orbits. A primary objective of the Space Force is to train personnel adept at identifying and countering these threats. The Pentagon’s 2020 Defence Space Strategy highlights China and Russia as the foremost strategic adversaries in space, citing their aggressive development of anti-satellite capabilities and military doctrines advocating the extension of conflict into space domains. With inputs from agencies