Outer space has emerged as the world's next battlefield, demonstrated by recent cyberattacks on satellites blamed on Russia. National security officials have said the Kremlin also is seeking to develop a space-based weapon that could knock out American satellites, potentially devastating the U.S. economy while leaving the country vulnerable to military attack. Officials in Washington are taking notice, investing in greater efforts to defend U.S. satellites while countering threats from China and Russia. One example is the U.S. Space Force, created in 2019 and tasked with protecting American interests in space.
 NATO has started coordinating regular deliveries of large weapons packages to Ukraine, most bought from the U.S. Sweden said Tuesday that it would work with neighbors Denmark and Norway to provide $500 million worth of air defenses, anti-tank weapons, ammunition and spare parts. It follows a Dutch announcement of air defense equipment and ammunition worth $578 million. NATO says the weapons "packages will be prepared rapidly and issued on a regular basis." The equipment is based on Ukraine's priority needs on the battlefield. Air defense systems are in greatest need. The United Nations has said Russia's relentless pounding of urban areas has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians.
