Report Suggests Russia Is Developing Space Weapons

A deputy defense minister said Thursday that Russia is working towards developing anti-satellite weapons to match efforts by other nations.

According to Russian news reports, Gen. Valentin Popovkin said that while the country continues to oppose a space arms race, it would respond to moves made by other countries.

Popovkin was quoted as saying: "We can’t sit back and quietly watch others doing that, such work is being conducted in Russia."

He added that Russia already has some "basic, key elements" of such weapons. However, he didn’t elaborate further, the Associated Press reported.

The former chief of the Russian military Space Forces reportedly made the statement at a news conference after being questioned over U.S. and Chinese tests of anti-satellite weapons.

A U.S. Navy ship launched a missile that hit a dying spy satellite in February 2008, raising the credibility of missile defense advocates.

China terminated one of its own defunct satellites with a ballistic missile in 2007.

U.S. plans for space-based weapons have been criticized by the Kremlin in the past, saying they could trigger a new arms race. So far, the U.S. has rejected several proposals from both Russia and China for an international agreement to ban space weapons.

During the Bush administration, the Pentagon worked on missiles, ground lasers and other technology to shoot down satellites.

Russia opposed the administration’s plan to locate missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, calling it a threat to its security.

President Barack Obama has expressed interest in forgoing an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe, should Russia aid the U.S. in ending the standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.