A White House spokesman said on Thursday that antisatellite technology being developed by Russia had not been deployed and posed “no immediate threat to anyone’s safety.”“We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on earth,” the spokesman, John F. Kirby, told reporters.
Mr. Kirby also pushed back on calls from Republicans to broadly declassify intelligence related to the weapon, which came to light on Wednesday in part after a cryptic message by Representative Michael R. Turner, Republican of Ohio and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
After Mr. Turner’s announcement, current and former officials briefed on the matter said Russia was believed to be making advances on a new, space-based nuclear weapon designed to threaten America’s extensive satellite network.
Persons:
John F, Kirby, Michael R, Turner
Organizations:
Republican, House Intelligence
Locations:
Russia, Ohio