Ukraine in Talks With SpaceX and Pentagon to Lift Military Satellite Speed Cap
· World · The Independent, The Hindu
Ukraine is engaged in discussions with SpaceX and the Pentagon to remove a speed restriction on its military satellite communication service, Starshield. The restriction, implemented without warning, cuts internet data connections when communication terminals exceed 160 kph, directly impacting Ukrainian drones and forcing them to fly slower. Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that the issue has become political rather than purely technical. US President Donald Trump denied ordering the restriction and expressed doubt that SpaceX founder Elon Musk was responsible. The speed limit disruption compounds existing diplomatic strains between Kyiv and Washington over intelligence sharing and US diesel imports.
Why it matters
Restrictions on critical battlefield satellite communication directly impair Ukraine's drone defense capabilities against Russian strikes amid broader geopolitical tensions.
Read the original report — The Independent
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