What is Starshield, the ‘military’ version of Starlink? How Ukraine Uses Two SpaceX Systems Against Russia | Explained | Today’s news

SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield services, key to Ukraine’s fight against Russia, were abruptly curtailed Tuesday night, Ukrainian officials said, Axios reported. The system shut down, they claimed, when the drone exceeded 100 mph (160 km/h). In some cases it disconnected when the speed exceeded 80 km/h.

Ukraine relies on two satellite systems, Starlink and Starshield. Both systems were curtailed, limiting drone strike missions and air defense, Ukrainian officials said, according to Axios.

Speaking at a meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “Today we had massive (Russian) attacks and it’s a shame we also had difficulties… with Starlink and intelligence and a lot of different surprises.”

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

Starlink is SpaceX’s commercial satellite Internet service, while Starshield is a military and intelligence system developed for government users. They have separate missions but share basic satellite technology.

Ukraine uses Starlink for battlefield communications, logistics, intelligence gathering, and the operation of reconnaissance and defense drones. He helped Ukrainian forces maintain links with drone operators.

Starshield is designed for government and military missions, including secure communications and offensive military capabilities. It uses improved encryption and can integrate sensors or other payloads on platforms such as drones.

Ukrainian officials said the speed restrictions and service disruptions affected drone missions and air defenses. They warned that the 160 km/h cap could prevent some interceptor drones from catching faster Russian drones.

Elon Musk said that SpaceX owns and controls Starlink, while the US government owns and controls Starshield. He said the speed limits or use of the Starshield are decided by the US military and ultimately the US president.

Read also | Ukrainian Starlink Restrictions: Why ‘Starshield’ Matters on the Battlefield

Meanwhile, a former Ukrainian minister commented on the Starshield speed limit, writing on X: “Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h is being restored. The complete removal of the Starshield speed limit is now essential for the defense of Ukraine.”

Ukraine’s complaint again drew attention to the difference between Starlink, SpaceX’s commercial satellite Internet service, and Starshield, a military version developed for the Pentagon. While Musk said the two systems are separate, in many cases they share the same basic satellite technology.

Starlink and Starshield: What’s the difference?

SpaceX’s Starlink is used for satellite communications, ground forces, logistics and defense drones — those that shoot down incoming drones. Meanwhile, the Starshield is used for offensive military purposes.

The head of SpaceX Elon Musk did not directly comment on the alleged restrictions on Starlink and Starshield services, but indirectly indicated which entity will be responsible for the restrictions imposed on Ukraine.

Read also | Zelensky urges Musk to “turn on” Starlink as Ukraine reports “trouble” to US

On X, he wrote: “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any speed or use restrictions are decided by the US military and ultimately by the POTUS.”

He also explained that “Starlink is a commercial service owned and operated by SpaceX”.

Musk said Starlink’s use is limited to civilian or defense activities and cannot be used for offensive military actions “because it would be inappropriate for a commercial company.”

What is Starlink?

Starlink, SpaceX’s main profit engine, is a satellite Internet network with more than 11,000 satellites that transmit broadband services directly to user terminals the size of folded newspapers. Its roughly 13 million subscribers range from households and tourists to shipping companies and major airlines.

The first Starlink satellites were launched in 2019 aboard SpaceX reusable rockets. Since then, the company has built a large constellation in low Earth orbit that covers much of the planet and provides faster links than traditional communications satellites, which typically operate much farther from Earth and in much smaller numbers.

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SpaceX’s Starlink gave Ukraine a critical communications advantage early in the war and reshaped the way militaries operate on the battlefield.

Starlink allows Ukraine to guide drones to Russian targets as well as protect its own skies. It is not used for long-range Ukrainian missions that have successfully targeted Russian oil refineries in recent months.

Musk limited Starlink to certain military uses while emphasizing Starshield, a more secure network developed for government and military missions.

What is Starshield?

Starshield is a business unit of SpaceX that develops military and intelligence satellite systems for the Pentagon.

While its missions are separate from Starlink’s commercial broadband service, the distinction isn’t always clear: Starlink can’t be used for offensive military actions, SpaceX says. However, Starshield enables these capabilities and uses enhanced encryption to transmit sensitive information.

Starshield relies on the vast Starlink constellation as its backbone. According to SpaceX, it uses Starlink’s technology, engineering and operational experience.

In addition, Starshield provides users with the ability to integrate sensors into objects such as drones. The company says the militarized version can also provide users with Earth observation and the ability to integrate sensors or other payloads.

1. Starshield launches payload sensing satellites and delivers the processed data directly to the user.

2. Starshield provides guaranteed global communications to government users with Starshield user equipment.

3. Starshield builds satellite buses to support the most demanding customer payload missions.

The Pentagon is a major buyer

The Pentagon, Starshield’s largest customer, has spent billions of dollars on both Starlink and Starshield services. It also bought specialized Starshield satellites, including communications spacecraft for missile warning missions and a spy constellation for the National Reconnaissance Office, Reuters reported in 2024.

Questions about the relationship between Starlink and Starshield have persisted since Russia threatened Western satellites supporting Ukraine in 2022. SpaceX unveiled Starshield later that year, but the secrecy surrounding national security space programs has left the exact boundaries between the two systems opaque.

Those differences became a point of contention earlier this year when the Pentagon clashed with SpaceX over higher prices for satellite services used by military drones during the Iran conflict, Reuters reported.

SpaceX claimed that some customers paying roughly $5,000 per terminal for Starlink should instead have been using the Starshield service, which costs about $25,000 per terminal.

Britain also adopted the Starshield. Under the arrangement, the service uses the same satellite constellation, ground stations and ground infrastructure as Starlink, but operates through dedicated terminals and separate network gateways, Britain’s Ministry of Defense told Reuters.

Other American partners are also evaluating the system. New Zealand is testing the Starshield to assess its usefulness for military operations, the New Zealand Defense Force told Reuters earlier.