Russia is developing doomsday space nuke capable of destroying thousands of satellites at once, with devastating global effect

Russia is developing a new nuclear weapon in space that could be detonated in orbit, the Pentagon has warned. The chilling new development was revealed in a report this week by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The agency warned that Moscow's new doomsday device would be capable of destroying thousands of satellites at once. The impact of such an attack would have devastating global consequences and could plunge the British economy into freefall.The news comes as Vladimir Putin issued one of his starkest threats to the West on Thursday, warning he was 'ready' to go to war with Europe.'Russia is developing a satellite designed to carry a nuclear weapon despite its obligation to comply with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the placement of any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction into orbit around Earth,' the DIA said in its latest report on Monday. 'A space-based capability such as this could cause rapid and sudden loss or degradation of thousands of satellites operated by countries and companies around the world, as well as to the vital communications, navigation, scientific, meteorological, commercial, and national security services they provide.'It's unclear how Russia would deploy its new nuclear weapon. It could loiter in orbit and be launched from a satellite. Or it could be deployed from the ground. The explosion of a nuke in orbit would create an electromagnetic pulse, which could be capable of disrupting satellites hundreds of miles away from the initial blast. Russia is developing nuclear space weapons that could destroy thousands of satellites, US intelligence has warned (stock image)The DIA said detonating such a weapon would have long-lasting consequences, leaving a damaging radiation belt hanging above the earth. 'Beyond its immediate effects, a nuclear detonation in space would also leave lingering radiation belts, which could persist for years and damage satellites that initially were only temporarily disrupted,' it's report added.Space is increasingly critical to modern life, with nations relying on thousands of satellites to provide global navigation systems, used by billions.The space sector is also a major driver for the economy, with around 18 per cent of UK GDP - about £454billion - now reliant on satellite services.However, defence chiefs have warned that space is increasingly becoming a domain of competition and will soon become the next future battlefield. Adversaries, like Russia and China, are investing in technology to disrupt, degrade, and deny the space-based services.As the threat continues to grow, a military space chief this week warned Britons the prospect of a Kremlin-launched assault on orbital satellites was become ever more likely.Air Marshal Paul Godfrey said such an attack could devastate the UK's economy, claiming society's reliance on space tech, powering things like banking and navigation apps, had left it vulnerable.'What people don't understand is just the proliferation of threat in the space domain,' he told The Times's The General and The Journalist podcast. Air Marshal Paul Godfrey (pictured) said such an attack could devastate the UK's economyThe news comes as Vladimir Putin warned on Oct 29 he was 'ready' to go to war with Europe 'I do think resilience is important in this … connected world, because everything is handed to us on a plate. Personally, I've thought, am I going to get some solar panels and a battery in the garage so I've got a little bit of power if the power goes out?'AM Godfrey pointed to the first known act of intimidation in space earlier this month, when a Russian satellite almost hit a US satellite providing intelligence to Ukraine.The military officer, who was the first leader of UK Space Command when it was set up in 2021 before being headhunted to become the assistant chief of space operations at the Pentagon two years ago, said civilian satellites were most vulnerable.Among one of the prime targets, he said, included the European Galileo network, which provides global positioning systems via a timing signal.Putin on Thursday warned there would be 'no winners' if he entered a conflict with Nato, as he issued his latest threat to the West.Despite insisting he did not want to become embroiled in a bloody fight with Europe, he said if tensions continued to escalate, he and his troops are ready.'Many people keep talking about preparing for war by 2030. Is that right or wrong?' the Russian tyrant said at a press conference in Moscow.'First of all, we are ready, but we don't want any war with Europe. As for them, if anyone wants it, let them prepare.'But they have not achieved their goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia. It's unlikely that this will be possible by 2030.'And if things go too far, there will be no winners at all. Let no one forget that.'Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, the Chief of Air Staff, last month warned space was now facing an 'unprecedented threat' from the likes of Russia. Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth (pictured), the Chief of Air Staff, last month warned space was now facing an 'unprecedented threat' from the likes of RussiaThe RAF boss claimed the Kremlin had already launched hostile operations in high orbit to target Nato satellites and disrupt GPS systems'Make no mistake, the satellite services you may have taken for granted now face an unprecedented threat,' he told the Space and Power Conference in London.Sir Harv said that in May this year, the Ministry of Defence had 'tracked a series of unusual and significant manoeuvres by five Russian military satellites – moving to within rapid reach of two Finnish commercial satellites'.Then, in June, it was confirmed Russian satellites had disrupted GPS signals across Europe, Greenland and Canada over at least 75 days since 2019, the RAF chief added.'These manoeuvres are uncommon and dangerous – raising serious questions about Russia's intent in space,' Sir Harv warned.'Unfortunately, we are now seeing more and more irresponsible and provocative actions from our adversaries – in flagrant disregard of the norms for responsible behaviour by spacefaring nations.'The US last month revealed it had deployed a space weapon in Earth orbit to combat 'evolving threats'.The move was condemned by Beijing, which accused Washington of starting an 'arms race' in space.Britain also unveiled a new crack unit of space commandos who have been tasked with protecting the UK from space attack.Dubbed the No 3 Space Effects Squadron, the new unit is the third to be stood up by the RAF but its first specifically tasked with disrupting and degrading hostile actions against Britain's space interests.The team can used specialised ground-based 'dazzlers' to effectively blind enemy satellites in orbit by jamming their communications back to earth. However, the UK does not have any weapons in space. The Daily Mail understands military leaders deem such an action as 'reckless' and that there is no appetite for Britain to do this.