SpaceX Secures Pentagon Contract to Upgrade 2,500 Starlink Terminals in Ukraine to Starshield

Dec 7, 2024, 05:05 AM

SpaceX has secured a Pentagon contract to expand Ukraine's access to Starshield, a more secure, militarized version of its Starlink satellite network. This upgrade will provide 2,500 existing Starlink terminals in Ukraine with access to Starshield, a classified and encrypted signal that is more difficult to hack into or jam. The contract aims to enhance Ukraine's connectivity through 2025, offering a total of 3,000 terminals with this secure network. This development comes amidst opposition from the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), which has urged the Federal Communications Commission to pause SpaceX's plans to expand its Starlink satellite constellation, citing concerns over Elon Musk's alleged ties to Russia and potential national security issues.