The Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed russian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone equipped with SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications during a night attack on September 25 when 28 of 32 drones were shot down.
Defense Express received the relevant photos from its own sources. They show a satellite dish with serial numbers on it. This should allow to explore the supply channels of the Starlink terminal.
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At the same time, it was only a matter of time before russia would start installing Starlink on its long-range UAVs. Before that, russians had already experimented with 4G modems.
Now we are talking about a very wide and powerful feedback channel with the drone, the ability to transmit information from it and change the flight task at any distance. This means that Shahed kamikaze drones can be transformed into a reconnaissance tool.
russians may need Starlink to transmit intelligence information, for example, collected by radio detection about Ukrainian air defense positions. in the case when drone equipped with cameras, it will transmit images. Due to Starlink, russia can use Shahed drone as a long-range loitering munition with the ability to reconnoiter, thanks to an additional camera, and hit even moving targets.
The choice of Shahed drones for such purposes may be due to their range of about 2,000 km and a rather large free volume in the middle of the fuselage. This may also be due to the work of russian engineers in Alabuga, where these drones are assembled.
It should be noted that although Starlink does not operate and is not sold in russia, russians buy it through third countries. At the same time, the United States is trying to fight this problem, but it is far from being solved.
Obviously, Washington needs to speed up on this issue, because Shahed drones with Starlink in it is about unlimited control of a strike UAV with a flight range of up to 2000 km. Taking into account the fact that russia cooperates not only with rogue states but also with terrorist groupings, shows that this is a threat not only to Ukraine.
Earlier Defense Express reported about russia's new strategy against Ukrainian anti-aircraft drones.
Read more: How Effective Is russia's New Strategy Against Ukrainian Anti-Aircraft Drones?
