Ukrainian army to gain significant technological advantage over Russian army - ISW
The Ukrainian army will gain access to Starlink's secret signal (Illustrative photo: starlink.com)
The Armed Forces of Ukraine will gain expanded access to Starshield, a more secure satellite network for Starlink terminals. This will provide Ukrainian troops with an advantage in the technological arms race against the Russian military, reports the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The report cites Bloomberg's December 6 information that SpaceX recently secured a Pentagon contract to expand Ukraine's access to Starshield. This encrypted version of the Starlink satellite network is capable of transmitting classified data and is harder to jam or hack.
The US Space Command’s Commercial Satellite Office noted that 3,000 Ukrainian Starlink terminals will gain access to the more secure Starshield network, an increase from the 500 Ukrainian terminals previously connected to it.
ISW highlighted that Ukrainian and Russian forces are engaged in an offensive-defensive race, seeking to adapt and innovate their strike capabilities and electronic warfare (EW) systems.
At the same time, Ukrainian servicemen have reported increased use of Starlink terminals by Russian forces for coordinating combat operations, and communication, and enhancing the accuracy of tactical strikes.
According to the Associated Press, Russian military forces have utilized Starlink systems to improve the resistance of their drones to interference.
"Ukraine's increased access to the more advanced and more secure Starshield network may afford Ukrainian forces a technological edge to conduct more effective combat coordination and field new developments in their tactical reconnaissance strike complex (TRSC) ahead of Russian forces," the ISW report stated.
Use of the Starlink system by the Ukrainian army
Starlink is a system that provides high-speed broadband satellite internet access. Ukraine's Armed Forces have been actively using it in areas close to the front lines.
During the first six months of the full-scale war, Ukrainian troops received 5,000 Starlink stations.
At the end of 2023, Poland donated an additional 5,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine, which are being deployed in frontline regions.
Recently, media outlets reported an agreement between the US and SpaceX to expand Ukraine’s access to the classified Starshield signal offered by Starlink.
