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Zelensky says Musk-owned satellite system throttled again

Axios
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Ukraine has reported new disruptions to Starshield, SpaceX's military satellite system used for drone interception, with restrictions escalating to full mission failure over three days. Ukrainian officials are seeking explanations from the Pentagon and SpaceX amid concerns these are deliberate speed throttling measures.

What happened

Ukrainian officials reported that the Starshield satellite system, owned by SpaceX, experienced new disruptions over a three-day period. The system, used for intercepting drones, saw its performance decline to the point of complete mission failure. Ukrainian authorities have contacted both the Pentagon and SpaceX to request explanations for the disruptions. They suspect the issues may be due to intentional speed throttling.

Key details

  • Starshield is a military satellite system from SpaceX.
  • The disruptions occurred over three days.
  • The system is used by Ukraine for drone interception.
  • Ukrainian officials reached out to the Pentagon and SpaceX for clarification.
  • Officials suspect deliberate speed throttling.

Why it matters

Ukrainian military operations that rely on the Starshield system for drone interception are directly affected, as the disruptions led to failed missions. Ukrainian authorities now face uncertainty about the reliability of a key technology and must seek answers from both the U.S. government and SpaceX. This situation may impact Ukraine's ability to use satellite-based systems for defense purposes.

#drone-warfare#elon-musk#pentagon#satellite-communications#spacex#starlink#starshield

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