“We continue to work with a variety of global partners to ensure Ukraine has the flexible satellite and communications capabilities it needs. Satellite communications form a critical layer in Ukraine’s overall communications network, and the Department has contracted Starlink to provide these services,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Photo: Reuters
Starlink has been used by the Ukrainian military for a variety of endeavors, including battlefield communications.
Specifically, SpaceX has provided the Ukrainian people and the country’s military with Starlink internet service, a network of more than 4,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, since the conflict broke out last year. The services are paid for through private donations and under a separate contract with a U.S. foreign aid agency.
The Pentagon contract comes after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said last October that he could not afford to indefinitely fund Starlink in Ukraine, an effort he said costs $20 million a month to maintain.
Russia has attempted to disrupt and disrupt internet services in Ukraine, including an attempt to block Starlink in the region. SpaceX was able to restore service after these attacks.
The Pentagon did not disclose the terms of the contract "for security reasons and due to the critical nature of these systems."
Trung Kien (according to Reuters)
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