Extortion Inc.
Exclusive: US could cut Ukraine's access to Starlink internet services over minerals, say sources | Reuters
"During the meeting, #Ukraine was told it faced imminent shutoff of the Starlink service if it did not reach a deal on critical minerals, said the source, who requested anonymity to discuss closed negotiations." #Musk
NFL. Ukraine military is really smart. It will be a blow to lose Starlink, but they have certainly established contingency plans for this eventuality.
@kkarhan@mastodonmigration @GottaLaff noone relies solely on #Starlink, espechally given it's big-ass dishes.
Even the #US #DoD uses #Iridium & #UHFSATCOM.
#SES & #Eutelsat have various commercial #Cband, #KuBand & #KaBand transponders for bidirectional data from their GSOs.
#Ukraine has both #Fiber and #Radio links (civilian and military) to link together units and emplacements. Espechally direct-burial/lie-flat fiber is used because #COTS parts are cheap, commonplace and unlike copper, they can do 160km+ without amplifiers with ample of room for splices.
Pretty shure Starlink was a mere "comfort feature" allowing units to send their drone footage from their FOB to HQ for instant #Meme|fication and "scoreboard updates" but I'm shure worst-case the #NAFO friends will just pack in some 2,5" SSDs and USB cases with the next supply trucks or have some #Skyhook-Style delivery system if that was ever needed.
- I'm shure the folks in the trenches will miss YouTubing in their toilet break, but I'm shure they still have enough #Memes and #Entertainment in reserve to compensate for it.
@kkarhan @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff Starlink is THE ONLY satellite network that can be used to control drones in real-time.
All other (operational) networks rely on geostationary satellites that have a latency of around 2 seconds. Because the satellites are 36000 km away. (~600km for Starlink satellites).
I am sure the Ukrainians use that capability (low latency) extensively.
@kkarhan@amayer @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff NOT TRUE!
The entire CnC systems for #UAV|s by the US DoD use X-Band for video feeds and #Iridium for remote control.
- In combat theaters, drones get either controlled by operators on the ground in visual range or get their targets directed by them i.e. via IR Laser Designators (so a Hellfire Rocket can home in!)
Basically no drone fielded supports #Starlink even as secondary payload because the angular velocity exceeds Starlink specs on existing terminals.
@kkarhan @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff I’m pretty sure they use Starlink on their bigger flying drones as a hub for the FPV drones.
And at least some of the sea drones also seem to use Starlink, apparent by the distinct dish.
The big combat drones like US reapers are not in any way comparable. From what I understand, those are more autonomous and as such don’t rely on low latency as much.
As for specs - who cares about those as long as it works.
@kkarhan@amayer @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff no, they don't.
@kkarhan @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff Please excuse me if I don’t take your word for it.
@kkarhan@infosec.space@amayer @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff neither do I take yours.
- It's just that so far there are 0 #Starlink Terminals with TSO AFAICS, and if you can't even find Aerospace-grade Antennas on the civilian Luxury Passenger & Business Jet mariet, then it's even less likely you'll see some 1st gen Starlink dishes on a drone given it is a mechanically aligning phased array and the mobility aspects of Drone Warfare in Ukraine does not play nicely with #Starlink.
In fact I've yet to see any #Drone using #Starlink in a combat setting...
- Not to mention the cost and payload of a Starlink Terminal compared to FPV & Line-of-Sight controls are makibg it not worth it. You'd rather see drones controlled with fiberoptical cables in tow instead of Starlink.
@kkarhan @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQUeEyNc6eU
Took me a few seconds to find that video.
@kkarhan@amayer @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff that's on a car and not the terminals Ukraine got.
- argument invalid!
I give up. @kkarhan@amayer @mastodonmigration @GottaLaff If you find any drones with #Starlink that ain't some aerial survey gliders, feel free to point those out.
- Meanwhile, I've yet to see #Starlink in use on air vehicles in Ukraine at all...