미 우주군, 궤도상에 '우주통제 무기' 배치 발표

[위종민]

미 공군장관이 미 우주군이 '우주통제 무기'를 우주궤도상에 배치했다고 발표했네요. 정체가 뭔지는 모르겠지만 단순 정찰위성이나 조기경보, 통신중계위성은 아닐 거고, 뭔가 지상/우주에 물리력을 행사할 수 있는 종류의 것일 듯 한데요. 

AMTI 1번 위성이 이달 발사될 예정이라고 합니다. 

우주군, 궤도상에 ‘우주통제 무기’ 배치…공군장관 공개

트로이 마인크는 미국이 어떤 종류의 “무기”를 배치했는지는 구체적으로 밝히지 않았지만, 다른 우주 및 무인 공군 프로그램에 관한 새로운 정보도 공개했다.

마이클 매로
2026년 9월 14일 오전 11시 59분

메릴랜드주 내셔널하버 — 트로이 마인크 미 공군장관에 따르면 미 우주군은 “우주통제 무기”를 궤도에 배치했다. 이는 미국 정부 당국자가 미국이 지구 궤도를 도는 무기체계를 배치했다고 공개적으로 인정한 첫 사례다.

“오늘날에도 우리는 변화하는 위협이 어디에 존재하든 그 도전에 대응할 준비태세를 유지하도록 계속 노력하고 있습니다.” 마인크는 이곳에서 열린 공군·우주군협회 회의 기조연설에서 말했다. “이것이 바로 미국이 이제 적대적 상대의 행동으로부터 합동군을 방어할 수 있는 궤도상 우주통제 무기를 보유하고 있는 이유입니다.”

마인크는 구체적인 내용을 설명하지 않았으며, 공군부도 추가적인 세부사항 제공을 거부했다.

장관의 제한적인 발언은 상당한 주목을 받을 것이 분명하다. 미국 정부는 세계적인 우주 군비경쟁을 촉발할 수 있다는 우려 때문에 수년 동안 궤도 무기에 대한 공개적인 논의를 금기시해왔다. 그럼에도 미 국방부는 잠재적인 공격적 능력과 관련된 정책을 완화했고, 그 필요성에 대해서도 공개적으로 언급하기 시작했다. 미국은 또한 바이든 행정부 시절 추진된 파괴적 위성요격 시험 금지를 포함해 궤도상 책임 있는 행동을 촉진하기 위한 노력도 주도해왔다.

“우주통제”는 미국 및 우방의 우주전력을 보호하기 위한 방어적 행동과, 적의 우주능력을 “무력화”하기 위한 공격적 행동으로 정의돼왔다. 마인크는 어떤 종류의 무기가 궤도상에 있는지 밝히지 않았지만, 이론적으로는 운동에너지 방식과 비운동 방식의 체계가 모두 가능하다. 다만 대량살상무기는 우주조약에 의해 명시적으로 금지된다.

이후 기자들과 가진 원탁회의에서 마인크는 우주무기를 공개적으로 논의하는 것이 미국의 적대국들을 자극할 수 있다는 지적에 불쾌감을 드러냈다.

“이 자리에 있는 누구든 중국과 러시아가 이런 종류의 무기를 개발해왔는지에 대해 의문을 갖고 있습니까?” 마인크는 반문했다. 그는 당국자들이 10년 넘게 모스크바와 베이징이 궤도 무기를 개발하고 있다는 우려를 제기해왔다고 말하면서, “우리는 수십 년 동안 그래왔던 것처럼 그 환경에서 우리 자신을 보호하고 작전할 수 있도록 하는 데 집중하고 있습니다”라고 강조했다.

마인크는 억제력을 확립하기 위해 이러한 종류의 무기가 존재한다는 사실을 논의하는 것이 중요하다고 말했다. 그러나 동시에 시험 일정과 능력 같은 구체적인 세부사항은 “실제로는 그러한 억제력에 도움이 되지 않을 것”이라고 말했다.

바이든 행정부 당시 당국자들은 러시아가 위성을 파괴하기 위한 궤도 핵무기에 관심을 갖고 있다고 주장했다. 중국 역시 근접기동 중 궤도상 “도그파이트”를 벌였다는 의혹을 포함해 미국 당국자들의 우려를 불러일으킨 우주 활동을 추진하고 있다.

우주통제 자산만이 미 국방부가 우주에 배치할 계획인 무기는 아니다. 마인크는 이날 우주군이 궤도에서 적의 미사일을 격추할 수 있는 우주기반 요격체계용 “비행준비 완료” 하드웨어를 확보했다고 밝혔다. 이 체계는 행정부의 골든 돔 구상의 핵심 요소다.

마인크는 추가적인 우주기반 사업의 진전도 공개했다. 그는 다수의 공중 이동표적지시 위성 가운데 첫 번째 위성이 이달 발사될 것이라고 말했다. 이 궤도 위성들은 적의 공중 플랫폼을 추적하기 위해 상공에서 전 지구적 감시범위를 제공하게 되며, 이 임무는 E-7 웨지테일 레이더 항공기 전력과 해군의 E-2D 어드밴스드 호크아이 같은 다른 자산들에 의해 보강된다.

우주군은 지난 5월 스페이스X에 수십억 달러 규모의 계약을 수여한 데 이어, 2028년까지 초기 AMTI 위성군을 운용할 계획이다.

다소 아이러니하게도 마인크는 우주시스템 개발 속도가 빨라지면서 AMTI 위성이 E-7보다 먼저 준비될 것이라고 지적했다. E-7 계약은 2023년에 체결됐다. 이 레이더 및 지휘통제 항공기는 이미 다른 국가들에서 운용 중이지만, 미국의 웨지테일 프로그램은 협상 지연과 트럼프 행정부의 이전 취소 시도 때문에 어려움을 겪어왔다. 해당 취소 시도는 성공하지 못했다.

“우주시스템은 실제로 우리가 E-7을 배치하는 것보다 더 빠르게 만들어지고 있습니다.” 마인크는 원탁회의에서 말했다. “불과 10년 전 우리가 살던 세계와는 완전히 다른 세계입니다.”

MMA, CCA 목표

마인크는 연설의 다른 부분에서 공군의 신생 드론 프로그램에 대한 새로운 목표도 공개했다.

공군은 MQ-9A 리퍼를 당국자들이 대량 모듈형 항공기(Massed Modular Aircraft, MMA)라고 부르는 새로운 무인 플랫폼으로 대체할 계획이다. 이달 초 공군 당국자들이 MMA 프로그램을 가속할 계획이라고 밝힌 데 이어, 마인크는 공군이 2029년까지 MMA 드론 100대, 2032년까지 500대를 배치하는 목표를 설정했다고 밝혔다. MMA 프로그램이 7월 시작됐을 당시 당국자들은 원래 2031 회계연도까지 드론 20대만 운용하는 것을 목표로 삼았다.

공군장관은 공군의 협동전투항공기(CCA) 무인 윙맨 프로그램에 관한 핵심적인 새로운 세부사항도 공개했다. 공군은 지난 6월 CCA 프로그램의 첫 번째 단계 생산을 주도할 업체로 안두릴과 제너럴 아토믹스를 선정했으며, 마인크는 이제 공군이 2032년까지 CCA 드론 500대를 운용할 것으로 예상한다고 말했다. 그는 이 가운데 몇 대가 CCA 프로그램의 첫 번째 “인크리먼트”에서 나올지, 또는 후속 개발 단계에서 몇 대가 나올지는 구체적으로 밝히지 않았다.

마인크에 따르면 공군은 첫 CCA 드론의 공식 명칭도 확정했다. 안두릴의 FQ-44A는 공군에서도 업계 명칭인 “퓨리”를 그대로 사용하게 된다. 제너럴 아토믹스는 자사의 FQ-42A를 내부적으로 “다크 멀린”이라고 부르지만, 공군은 이 드론을 “벤전스”라고 부를 예정이다.

Space Force has 'space control weapons' on orbit, Air Force secretary reveals - Breaking Defense

Space Force has 'space control weapons' on orbit, Air Force secretary reveals - Breaking Defense

Space Force has ‘space control weapons’ on orbit, Air Force secretary reveals

Troy Meink didn't elaborate on what "weapons" the US deployed, but revealed new info on other space and unmanned Air Force programs.

By Michael Marrow on September 14, 2026 11:59 am

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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The US Space Force has launched “space control weapons” into orbit, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, the first public acknowledgement from a US government official that America has deployed weapon systems to circle the earth.

“Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist,” Meink said in a keynote address at the Air and Space Forces Association conference here. “This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action.”

Meink did not elaborate, and the Department of the Air Force declined to offer further detail.

RELATED: Laser weapons for space? US officials see threat, opportunity

The secretary’s limited remarks are sure to raise eyebrows, as frank discussion of orbital weaponry generally was taboo for the US government for many years amid fears of sparking a global space arms race — even as the Pentagon loosened policies related to potentially offensive capabilities and began to speak openly about their necessity. The US has also spearheaded efforts to promote responsible behavior in orbit, including a ban on destructive anti-satellite testing advanced during the Biden administration.

“Space control” has been defined as defensive actions to protect US and friendly space forces and offensive actions to “negate” an adversary’s space capabilities. While Meink did not specify what types of weapons are on orbit, options in theory include both kinetic and non-kinetic systems. (Any weapons of mass destruction, however, would be expressly forbidden by the Outer Space Treaty.)

In a subsequent roundtable with reporters, Meink bristled at suggestions that publicly discussing space weapons could embolden America’s adversaries.

“Is there any question in the room by anybody about whether or not the Chinese and Russians have been developing these sorts of weapons?” Meink asked. Officials for over a decade have raised concerns that Moscow and Beijing are pursuing orbital weapons, the secretary said, emphasizing that “we are focused on making sure that we can protect ourselves and operate in that environment as we’ve done for decades.”

Meink said it’s important to discuss the existence of those kinds of weapons to establish deterrence, but by the same token, specific details like test events and capabilities “would actually not benefit that deterrence.” 

Officials during the Biden administration alleged Russia was interested in an orbital nuclear weapon to destroy satellites. China as well is pursuing space activities that have drawn concern from American officials, including allegations of orbital “dogfighting” during proximity operations. 

Space control assets aren’t the only weapons the Pentagon plans to launch into the heavens. Meink said today the Space Force has achieved “flight ready” hardware for space-based interceptors that can bat down adversary missiles from orbit, a centerpiece of the administration’s Golden Dome initiative.

Meink revealed additional space-based milestones as well. The secretary said that the first among many air-moving target indication satellites will be launched this month. The orbital birds will provide overhead global coverage to keep tabs on air-based adversary platforms, a mission bolstered by a fleet of E-7 Wedgetail radar planes and other assets like the Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.

The Space Force plans to have an initial AMTI constellation working by 2028, following a multibillion-dollar award in May to SpaceX.

Perhaps somewhat ironically, Meink noted that the quickening speed of space system development means that AMTI satellites will be ready before the E-7, whose contract was awarded in 2023. The radar and command-and-control plane is already in service with other countries, but in the US the Wedgetail program has been beset by negotiation delays and a previous, unsuccessful attempt by the Trump administration to axe the effort altogether. 

“The space systems are actually building faster than we can field the E-7,” Meink said during the roundtable. “That is a different world than what we used to live in, maybe a decade ago.”

MMA, CCA Targets

Elsewhere during his speech, Meink revealed new goals for the Air Force’s budding drone programs.

The Air Force plans to replace the MQ-9A Reaper with a new unmanned platform officials call the Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA). After Air Force officials earlier this month revealed plans to accelerate the MMA program, Meink disclosed the service has set a goal of fielding 100 MMA drones by 2029, and 500 by 2032. When the MMA program was launched in July, officials originally set a target of getting just 20 drones operational by fiscal 2031.

The Air Force secretary also revealed some key new details about the service’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone wingman program. After picking Anduril and General Atomics in June to lead production of the CCA program’s first round, Meink said the Air Force now expects 500 CCA drones will be in service by 2032. He did not specify how many of those drones might come from the CCA program’s first “increment,” or how many may be drawn from successive development rounds.

The Air Force has also officially christened its first CCA drones, according to Meink. Anduril’s FQ-44A will keep its industry name “Fury” for Air Force purposes. While General Atomics internally refers to its FQ-42A as the “Dark Merlin,” the Air Force, for its purposes, will call the drone “Vengeance.”  

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Topics:

• AFA 2026
• Air Force
• airborne moving target indication (AMTI)
• Anduril
• collaborative combat aircraft
• Drones
• E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
• E-7
• General Atomics
• space control
• Space Force
• Troy Meink

[김유철]

X37이나 정찰위성 등을 이야기하는 것은 아닌 것 같고..... 우주통제무기라고 하니까 상대의 킬러위성 배제 등이 주목적으로 궤도폭격하는 녀석은 아닐것 같고... 많이 궁금해지기는 하네요 ^^;;

[위종민]

위성군 보호를 위한 킬러위성일 것 같긴 한데 많이 궁금하긴 합니다 ㅎㅎㅎ

[ssn688]

>“우주시스템은 실제로 우리가 E-7을 배치하는 것보다 더 빠르게 만들어지고 있습니다.”
ㄷㄷㄷ...