Russia is building a laser cannon death ray capable of targeting and destroying objects in space.

The enormous weapon will be the size of a telescope, and will zero-in on orbital debris that poses a threat to nearby ships, Russia has confirmed.

But despite assurances the cannon will only be used to blast space debris, experts fear the cannon could become a vital part of the Vladimir Putin's arsenal.

The latest revelation comes weeks after a US Air Force chief warned that space wars could break out between superpower nations 'within years'.

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Russia has revealed plans to convert a telescope into a laser cannon. Pictured: Ground-based laser developed by the Soviet Strategic Defence Program which conducted extensive research on advanced technologies in the 1980s to try to interfer with US satellites.

Researchers working for a subsidiary of Roscosmos, the Russian equivalent of Nasa, have already started work on the laser cannon.

The Scientific and Industrial Corporation 'Precision Instrument Systems' (NPK SPP) team want to convert a telescope at the Altay Optical-Laser Centre (AOLTs) near Savvushka, some 45-miles (70 km) from the Kazak border.

'The scientists intend to use the massive soon-to-be-built telescope at the Altay Optical-Laser Centre and convert it into a laser cannon,' a report submitted to the Russian Academy of Sciences has revealed.

'The device is expected to be powered by a solid-state generator, though the project team has yet to choose which model to use.'

According to the report, the scientists hope to fit the cannon with an 'optic detection system which includes a solid-state laser.'

The weapon is expected to be able to gradually vaporise space debris using laser ablation.

The latter works by focusing a beam onto a surface to strip it of a material, like water.

Laser ablation does generate much excess heat and can be used to cause objects to evaporate or, when using a more powerful beam, transform into a plasma.

According to United States Space Surveillance Network, there are more than 21,000 space debris objects larger than 10cm (3.9 inches) orbiting the Earth at any given time.

These include abandoned launch vehicle stages and other debris from past missions, as well as nonfunctional spacecrafts and fragmented scraps.

Researchers working for a subsidiary of Roscosmos, the Russian equivalent of Nasa, have already started work on the laser cannon, which is expected to be able to gradually vaporise space debris using laser ablation

Roscosmos scientists say that if the issue of space debris is not addressed soon, it could clog up Earth's orbit and make launches almost impossible in one or two centuries time.

Russia is not only looking to ground-mounted cannons to fire lasers into space.

Earlier this year, it was revealed the country had created plane-mounted lasers to form part of an anti-satellite system.

According to an anonymous source quoted by Russian news agency Interfax, weapons maker Almaz-Antey has 'completed work on an anti-satellite complex'.

The system includes a laser mounted onto an aircraft as well as relevant ground control gear and radar that will help the device to find targets.

It will utilise a brand-new, as-yet-unnamed type of aircraft, the source said.

The system will include a laser mounted onto an aircraft as well as relevant ground control gear and radar that will help the device to find targets. The US Navy is also developing laser weapons, including this anti-drone 'active laser' that will be mounted onto warships

The claim has not been verified by independent sources, but the Moscow-based weapons firm is known to be developing anti-satellite weaponry for Russia's military.

Last April, Almaz-Antey general designer Pavel Sozinov told Russian news agency Ria Novosti that it was developing weapons that could interfere electronically with or achieve 'direct functional destruction of those elements deployed in orbit'.

He said the project was commissioned by Russian leaders.

Experts said that anti-satellite weaponry is a priority for Russian officials.

Samuel Bendett, a research analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, told DefenseOne: 'Russia considers American satellites a significant threat when it comes to potential confrontation.

'It is actively working to counter US technologies in space, such as possible electronic warfare technologies that can target hundreds of kilometres up.

'The developments in laser technologies are in step with US and Chinese advancements in this area.'

The United States is also focused on the challenge presented by space warfare.

US Air Force Chief Of Staff General David Goldfein believes the US will need new tools, specialist training, and billions of dollars in funding to prepare for combat in orbit.

Speaking at the Air Force Association's 34th annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition in Orlando earlier this year, General Goldfein said: '[It's] time for us as a service, regardless of speciality badge, to embrace space superiority with the same passion and sense of ownership as we apply to air superiority today.'

General Goldfein argues that the US Air Force is best placed to protect American interests in space.

He said: 'I believe we're going to be fighting from space in a matter of years.

'We are the service that must lead joint war fighting in this new contested domain. This is what the nation demands.'