Mysterious aircraft sparks speculation that the US is deploying space weapons

The flights of the X-37B space plane are among the most secretive missions conducted by the United States since World War II.

An X-37B prototype returns to Earth.

The mysterious X-37B aircraft landed for the first time in Florida, USA on May 7 after setting a record of 718 days in orbit.The US Air Force says the X-37B was developed to test reusable space vehicle technology, but its record-breaking stay in spacesparked speculation that the X-37B is a secret US weapon, according to Sun..

Project X-37Bwas launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1999, then transferred toDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)of the US Department of Defense in 2003. The X-37BThe first was launched in 2006.

After being transferred to DARPA, the X-37B became a classified project, all of its details were kept absolutely secret,Its missions have never been publicly disclosed.

Rumors have it that this is the first step in the US's plan to militarize space. The X-37B could be deployed as a space-based standoff weapon, designed to destroy enemy satellites. It could also be used as a launch pad to deliver bombs or kinetic weapons to any location on Earth.

X-37B after landing at Kennedy Space Center on the morning of May 7. Photo: USAF.

In 2010, some amateur astronomers claimed to have found clues that the spacecraft was conducting reconnaissance activities, when they discovered it flying over the same area every four days, a common feature of American reconnaissance satellites.

In 2015, Global Security commentedThe X-37B's primary purpose is to spy on China, putting its leaders at a disadvantage, but no evidence has been provided to prove it..

The Pentagon has dismissed these theories, but has also been tight-lipped about the X-37B. However, Gary E. Payton, the Air Force undersecretary for space programs, has said that the X-37B is “not offensively capable,” but has not elaborated.

According to VNE