Pentagon Teams Up With SpaceX to Block Russia From Using Starlink

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Bloomberg

May 9, 2024 at 12:01 PM EDT


Pentagon officials working with Elon Musk’s SpaceX have blunted the Russian military’s unauthorized use of Starlink internet terminals on the battlefield in its war with Ukraine, according to the Defense Department’s space policy chief. The US has been “heavily involved in working with the government of Ukraine and SpaceX to counter Russian illicit use of Starlink terminals,” John Plumb, the outgoing assistant secretary for space policy, said in an interview.

“At this time we have successfully countered Russian use, but I am certain Russia will continue to try and find ways to exploit Starlink and other commercial communications systems,” he told Bloomberg News. Although “it will continue to be a problem, I think we’ve wrapped our heads around it and found good solutions with both Starlink and Ukraine.”

Plumb declined to elaborate on what tactics, techniques or procedures are being used to stem Russia’s use of the highly portable communications terminals that connect to SpaceX’s fleet of low-orbiting satellites. Ukrainian government officials had no immediate comment.

Starlink terminals continue to be advertised for sale in Russia on platforms such as e-commerce site Ozon. Their sellers say they function through subscriptions taken out in the name of residents of European countries where the technology is licensed, and they say that connections work — not within Russia’s heartlands but near border regions such as Ukraine’s occupied territories.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-09/russia-starlink-access-blocked-by-pentagon-spacex-ukraine

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[intrepidity]

1. Huh. I thought Elon would've been the weak link. nt

[Lovie777]

2. Huh is right........................

Musk to my understanding gave Russia his blessing.

[GregariousGroundhog]

3. Blocking Russian access shouldn't be difficult

Analyze the latitude and logitude of where the data is coming from, and if that lat/long is inside a geofenced location, deny access.

[EX500rider]

5. The problem is the Russians will be using it in the same area as the Ukraine military, ie the front line

[JohnSJ]

4. If musk doesn't agree, deport him to Russia

[Traurigkeit]

6. That would be too good for Muck