Russia Highly Unlikely to Put Nuclear Warhead in Space, Analysts Say

FILE - National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Sept. 13, 2023. FILE - Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, speaks during a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 20, 2019.

The space-based weapon U.S. intelligence believes Russia may be developing is more likely a nuclear-powered device to blind, jam or fry the electronics inside satellites than an explosive nuclear warhead to shoot them down, analysts said on Thursday.