Polish startup Ares Shield hired to protect data center satellites with high-power microwave weapons
Florida-based Lonestar Data Holdings has contracted Polish startup Ares Shield to provide protection for its off-Earth data centers, in a deal worth up to $6 million.
As satellite companies increasingly prioritize self-defense, Florida-based Lonestar Data Holdings has partnered with Polish startup Ares Shield to safeguard its off-Earth data centers. The potential deal is worth up to $6 million. Lonestar CEO Stephen Eisele emphasized the importance of securing mission-critical data in orbit.
Ares Shield's protection system combines sensors, AI-driven analytics, and a high-power microwave (HPM) emitter. This technology can detect and classify threats, such as satellites attempting to steal data or interfere with the client's infrastructure. Instead of destroying the threat, the system can cause malfunctions, jam signals, or employ small-energy attacks to dissuade the attacker from targeting the protected satellite.
Ares Shield's CEO, Grzegorz Zwolinski, stated that the defense system aims to dissuade potential attackers from pursuing the protected satellite. The first defense systems for Lonestar are scheduled to be delivered in 2028 or 2029, with initial protection for three satellites. Additional spacecraft in the constellation will receive modules over time.
Zwolinski anticipates growing interest from other satellite operators due to the increasing threats in space, such as in-space surveillance and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) attacks.
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