Musk Blocks Ukraine Drones (CNN) – Threats to PNT are Threats to Sovereignty

by | Feb 12, 2023 | Blog

Image: Starlink Satellite / Shutterstock

Editor’s Note: This post was modified from its original to more clearly identify speculative content.

What’s New: SpaceX is blocking Ukraine from using Starlink for some military purposes

Why It’s Important: 

  • Starlink communications has been crucial to to the Ukrainian war effort.
  • According to a Univ. Texas paper, Starlink can be reverse engineered to provide PNT more resilient and reliable than GPS.
  • It is possible that Ukraine has done that and used Starlink for PNT in its drone attacks on Russia.
  • Elon Musk suggested Ukraine sacrifice Crimea to make peace with Russia.

Bigger Picture:

  • PNT use or denial can be used to influence a nation’s policy & war effort.
  • If your nation relies heavily day to day on PNT that can be denied by others, how sovereign is your country? Even if you are a superpower.

 

SpaceX admits blocking Ukrainian troops from using satellite technology – CNN

By Alex Marquardt and Kristin Fisher, CNN
Updated 4:18 PM EST, Thu February 9, 2023

The president of SpaceX revealed the company has taken active steps to prevent Ukrainian forces from using the critical Starlink satellite technology with Ukrainian drones that are a key component of their fight against Russia.

“There are things that we can do to limit their ability to do that,” Gwynne Shotwell told reporters on Wednesday, referencing reports on Starlink and drone use. “There are things that we can do, and have done.”

Starlink was never meant to be used militarily in the way that it has, Shotwell argued, saying the company didn’t foresee how profoundly – and creatively – Ukrainian forces would rely on the technology.

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