Panetta told CNN the weapon could disable US satellites. AdvertisementFormer CIA Director Leon Panetta said that Russia could "blind" the US by using a nuclear-capable weapon to disable satellites in space. Multiple media reports, citing US officials, said the threat was Russia developing a nuclear weapon to be deployed against satellites. AdvertisementOther reports described it differently: PBS News reported its sources saying the satellite would be powered by a nuclear reactor but was not itself a nuclear weapon. Security experts have long believed that if the US and Russia were to go to war, attacks to disable satellites could be among the first moves.

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Persons: Leon Panetta, Panetta, —, Barack Obama, Michael Turner of, Biden Organizations: CIA, CNN, Service, CNN Wednesday, Pentagon, Republican, House Intelligence Committee, ABC News, The New York Times, PBS News, Times, Soviet Union, Republicans Locations: Russian, Russia, Michael Turner of Ohio, Ukraine