SpaceX has taken steps to prevent the Ukrainian military from using the Starlink satellite internet service to control drones during combat operations against Russian forces in the region, the SpaceX president said Wednesday.
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, which provided the Ukrainian military with broadband to defend against the Russians, “was never intended to be weaponized,” said Gwynn Shotwell, president and chief executive. of the operation of SpaceX, during a press conference in Washington.
“However, the Ukrainians used it in a way that … was not foreseen by any agreement,” Shotwell said.
In an interview with reporters, she referred to reports that the Ukrainian military used the Starlink service to control drones.
Ukraine has effectively used unmanned aerial vehicles to detect enemy positions, conduct long-range fire and drop bombs.
“There are things we can do to limit that,” Shotwell said, referring to using Starlink to control drones. “There are things we can do that we have already done.”
Shotwell declined to elaborate on what action SpaceX is taking in this regard.
Using Starlink to control drones is outside SpaceX’s agreement with the Ukrainian government, Shotwell said, adding that the contract is for humanitarian purposes such as providing high-speed internet access to hospitals, financial institutions and families affected by the Russian invasion.
“We know that the army uses [Starlink] connect, and that’s fine,” she said. “But we never wanted them to use it offensively.”
SpaceX has privately trucked Starlink terminals to Ukraine, enabling the Ukrainian military to communicate by connecting the terminals and linking them to the nearly 4,000 satellites SpaceX has already launched into low Earth orbit.
Several governments, including the United States and France, have paid for other supplies of Starlink terminals beyond those privately funded by SpaceX.
Russia has attempted to jam Starlink signals in the region, though SpaceX has beefed up the service’s software in response, said company chief executive Elon Musk.
When asked if SpaceX plans to use Starlink for offensive purposes in Ukraine when deciding whether or not to deliver terminals to conflict zones, Shotwell replied, “We haven’t considered that. I didn’t think of it. Our Starlink team could [догадаться об этом], I don’t know. But we realized that pretty quickly.”
Late last year, Starlink in Ukraine experienced service outages for reasons SpaceX has not explained.
When asked if the outages were related to SpaceX’s efforts to restrict offensive use of Starlink, Shotwell said, “I don’t want to answer because I’m not sure I know the answer.”
