SpaceX limits StarShield speeds on Starlink terminals used by Ukrainian drones
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has imposed new speed restrictions on the StarShield service used by Starlink terminals installed on Ukrainian drones. On Oct. 14, Ukrainian military communications and electronic warfare specialist Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov reported on his Telegram channel that the terminals now work only at speeds of up to 100 mph (about 160 kph). He said the restrictions have affected…
SpaceX has limited the speeds of the StarShield service used by Ukrainian drones to a maximum of 100 mph. This decision came after the Ukrainian military reported disruptions in missions that relied on the StarShield "military package". The change in speed limits means the service can no longer be used on high-speed drones, affecting operations such as those of jet-powered aircraft.
Military analyst Georgy Trishkin explained that the StarShield system is separate from standard Starlink service and is only available to defense and government customers. This move was reportedly made by the Pentagon in the United States, though SpaceX bears some responsibility. The decision has drawn criticism from Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who accused Musk of playing politics with his products.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested the Trump administration threatened to stop sharing intelligence with Kyiv unless drone strikes on Russian oil refineries were halted. Meanwhile, Russia launches mass production of electronic warfare systems to counter Starlink, but analysts believe its capabilities are overstated.
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