Russia installed Starlink kit on kamikaze drones: but why?
SpaceX-made tech was reportedly discovered among the debris of a downed Russian Shahed-136 drone that was aiming at targets in Ukraine.
Image by Cybernews
SpaceX-made tech was reportedly discovered among the debris of a downed Russian Shahed-136 drone that was aiming at targets in Ukraine.
The drone was shot down on the night of September 25th, after Russia launched 32 drones to hit targets across Ukraine. According to Euromaidanpress and Defense Express, photos of debris from at least one of the drones launched that night have a Starlink logo and product serial number on it, making it the first time Shahed drones were equipped with Elon Musk’s technology.
After Iran started supplying Russia with Shahed drones, Moscow localized their manufacturing. The Loitering munition craft Shahed 136 is called Geran-2 in Russia. The devices’ primary objective is to deliver explosives to selected targets, earning them the moniker “kamikaze drone.”
The Starlink dish comes in handy when the drone’s operators want to transmit high volumes of data from its cameras. Since Starlink boasts an average connection of between 25 and 220 Mbps, operators can maneuver the craft in real-time.
Defense Express, a Ukrainian military news outlet, claims that the use of Starlink could empower Russia to use Shahed platforms for more precise attacks. Since the Shahed’s range can reach up to 2,000 kilometers (1,550 miles), ubiquitous fast-speed internet greatly improves the performance of the craft.
What makes it more interesting is that SpaceX and Elon Musk deny selling Starlink terminals to Russia. After reports of Russian armed forces employing Musk’s technology first surfaced in early February, Musk posted on X claiming that the information was “categorically false.”
The Ukrainian military relies on Starlink to communicate, gather intelligence, and conduct drone attacks. Meanwhile, the Russian army is testing electronic weapon systems to disrupt communications, according to a New York Times report in May.
Military tech-makers have tried using Starlink satellite comms for ground-based drones. For example, the Estonia-based company Milrem Robotics has integrated Starlink satellite communications into its THeMis Unmanned Ground Vehicle.