SpaceX is “rapidly innovating” by providing services useful to the Pentagon.
Pentagon officials working with Elon Musk’s SpaceX have prevented the unauthorized use of Starlink Internet terminals by Russian occupiers on the battlefield in the war against Ukraine. This was stated by the head of the space policy department of the defense department, John Plumb, reports Bloomberg.
He noted that successful opposition to Russian use of the technology continues. Russia is looking to find ways to use Starlink and other commercial communications systems. Plumb declined to specify what procedures are being implemented to stop the Russian Federation from using highly portable communications terminals that connect to SpaceX’s low-orbit satellites.
Important
To deceive the Russians: Ukrainian volunteers create mock-ups of Starlink terminals for the Ukrainian Armed Forces
“The United States has actively cooperated with the Ukrainian government and SpaceX to counter Russia’s illegal use of Starlink terminals,” Plumb explained.
He declined to say exactly how the Pentagon, SpaceX and the Ukrainian government acted to block Starlink from serving Russian troops on the front lines. SpaceX is “innovating quickly” to provide services that benefit the Pentagon, he said.
“I think we’ve thought about it and found good solutions with both Starlink and Ukraine,” he added.
Ukrainian officials did not comment on the statement.
Russians have Starlink and the war against Ukraine
Mikhail Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation, announced the introduction of strict restrictions on the use of Starlink terminals by the Russian armed forces. He noted that satellite systems, including Starlink, fell into the hands of potential adversaries through illegal channels with the help of third countries, which makes their use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces unacceptable.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb noted that Starlink is a commercial product, and Russia has no problem purchasing goods through the black market. According to him, the Pentagon cannot force SpaceX not to provide Starlink services to Russians at the front.
Let us remind you that on March 26, Bloomberg found out who was buying Starlink satellite terminals on the black market. According to journalists, the underground trade in American terminals has arisen in countries where there are communication problems and demand for high-speed Internet.
