Russia equips Shahed drones with Starlink, increasing threat level – Defense Express

SpaceX's Starlink satellite technology in Russia has been integrated into Shahed–136 attack drones.

The Defense Express portal reports this.

During a Russian attack on the night of September 25, the Defense Forces shot down a Shahed–136 drone, on which Starlink was seen.

The website is publishing pictures of satellite dishes along with their serial numbers in an effort to track the distribution channels for the Starlink terminal.

Adding Russian satellite communication to Shahed UAVs:

• will provide a wide and powerful feedback channel for the drone;
• will enable the possibility of transferring information from the drone;
• will allow for changing the flight task from any distance.

The portal emphasizes that in this way, Shahed turns primarily into an intelligence tool.

The enemy might utilize Starlink to transmit intelligence, such as data obtained through radio technology, on the whereabouts of Ukrainian air defense forces. Alternatively, if the drone is equipped with cameras, it could provide visual images. Thanks to Starlink, the Russian Federation would have the ability to employ Shahed as a highly long-range projectile with added reconnaissance capabilities from an extra camera, allowing for precise targeting of even moving targets.

Perhaps the decision to use the Shahed platform for this purpose is due to its impressive flight range of approximately 2000 km and ample space in the center of its fuselage. It could also stem from the engineers' "creativity" in Alabuz, where these drones are constructed.

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While Starlink does not function or has sales in the Russian Federation, Russians still purchase it through third-party countries. Despite efforts by the US to address this issue, it remains unresolved.

But it seems that Washington needs to pick up the pace with this issue, as Shahed from Starlink claims to have an unmanned attack aircraft with a flight range of up to 2,000 km. This is a concern, considering Russia's partnerships not only with rogue nations but also with terrorist organizations, posing a threat not just to Ukraine.