With the growing role of space networks in modern military conflicts, Russia and China activate efforts to counteract the dominance of commercial satellite groups, in particular Starlink from SpaceX. In its last annual report, Secure World Foundation Analytical Center (SWF) analyzed the global opportunities of countries in the field of space counteraction.
Russian strategy: “Starlink killer”
In Global Counterspace Capabilites: An Open Source Assessment, published 3 April, is noted, that after a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 Russia is actively developing technologies to block Starlink, which plays an important role in the military communication of the Armed Forces.
Since May 2024 the year Ukrainian military began to record the disruption in Starlink, what, According to Ukrainian officials, is the result of tests by Russia of new mechanisms of radio-electronic warfare.
SWF analysts distinguish two main Russian systems: Tobol and Kalinka.
Tobol - was originally created to protect Russian satellites from jamming, however, it is now used to jam signals from satellite communications and navigation systems, In particular, GPS. According to US Intelligence, Russia has launched at least three tobol complexes specifically for starlink obstruction over Eastern Ukraine.
Pomegranate, which is called “killer Starlink”, capable of detecting and jamming signals between Starlink satellites and ground terminals. It poses a particular threat to Ukrainian drones and military communications. in addition, SWF notes, that Kalinka can determine terminals, connected to Starshield, the military version of Starlink, which has an increased level of protection.
Chinese strategy
Unlike Russia, which already actively applies its systems in the war, China invests significant resources in the development of similar technologies, Preparing for potential conflicts in the future.
The SWF report mentions Chinese military study 2022 year, which recommends developing remedies for commercial satellite groups, Such as Starlink, In the event of an armed conflict with the US.
Global dynamics of space struggle
The Secure World Foundation report also analyzes the development of countermeasures against space systems in the United States, of India, Australia, France, Irani, Israel, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Great Britain.
Although kinetic systems to destroy satellites continue to be developed and tested, In practice, neoinetic methods are increasingly used - radio electronic struggle and cyberattacks.
American analysts predict, that with increasing dependence on space technologies struggle for control of orbital space will only exacerbate. In this confrontation, private operators are becoming increasingly common, such as SpaceX, whose technologies become key in modern conflicts.
Source: https://spacenews.com/russia-china-target-spacexs-starlink-in-escalating-space-electronic-warfare/