---
title: "Space Force Unveils Its First Weapon, a Satellite Jammer"
description: "The U.S. Space Force recently acquired its first offensive weapon: a satellite jammer that can block communications from the ground."
date: "2020-04-23"
modified: "2020-04-23"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/space-force-first-weapon-satellite-jammer"
categories:
  - "Military"
  - "Science & Energy"
  - "Space"
  - "Space Force"
tags:
  - "military technology"
  - "satellites"
  - "space force"
  - "the digest"
---

# Space Force Unveils Its First Weapon, a Satellite Jammer

![The U.S. Space Force recently acquired its first offensive weapon: a satellite jammer that can block communications from the ground.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/space-force-first-weapon-satellite-jammer.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Andrew Bertain/US Space Force\</em\>*

## Playing Offense

The [U.S. Space Force](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/us-space-force-leave-planet>) recently acquired its first offensive weaponry: a device capable of blocking satellite communications, temporarily rendering orbiting satellites useless.

The technology behind these Counter Communications Systems, as they're called, has already existed for years, *[Interesting Engineering ](<https://interestingengineering.com/us-space-forces-first-offensive-weapon-is-a-satellite-jammer>)*[reports](<https://interestingengineering.com/us-space-forces-first-offensive-weapon-is-a-satellite-jammer>), but the devices were only delivered to the military [last month](<https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/1237879900867940353>). With them, the U.S. can now disable enemy satellites from the ground.

## Arms Race

While these weapons are new for the U.S. military, they had already been deployed elsewhere. For instance, *[Popular Mechanics ](<https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a31703515/space-force-first-weapon/>)*[reports](<https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a31703515/space-force-first-weapon/>) that Russia's military has had similar weapons in place since 2019.

And while the technical details of how the jammers work are kept under wraps, *PopMech* reports that there have been at least 13 similar systems up and running around the world back in 2017.

## Logistical Nightmare

While the Counter Communication Systems don't actually damage the satellites they target, they pose a major threat to military and other communication networks that rely on satellites to relay messages.

That means soldiers could be cut off from communication networks while they're on a mission. And in a far more drastic scenario, missile alert systems could suddenly be disabled, leaving whatever nation got jammed vulnerable to a devastating attack.

**READ MORE:** [U.S. Space Force's First Offensive Weapon Is a Satellite Jammer](<https://interestingengineering.com/us-space-forces-first-offensive-weapon-is-a-satellite-jammer>) \[*Interesting Engineering*\]

**More on the Space Force:** *[The US Space Force Is About to Finally Leave the Planet](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/us-space-force-leave-planet>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)