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.
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