As Ukraine strikes back with technology to hunt out invading Russians, Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system is giving Ukrainian military an advantage in winning the drone war.
According to The Telegraph, Aerorozvidka (Aerial Reconnaissance) is being used to attack Russian drones and target Vladmir Putin’s army of tanks in the fight, which has been going on since February 24.
Drones in the field can use the newly available Starlink to stay connected and give intelligence as Ukraine suffers from internet and power outages.
Drones can be directed to drop anti-tank ammunition to assist fend off the Russian invasion, thanks to the technology.
The deployment of the satellites in the country’s defence fulfilled a promise made earlier this month to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by outspoken mogul Musk – who challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a fist fight for the country’s future this week – that SpaceX would send more Starlink satellite stations to provide internet to some of the country’s stricken cities.
The president of the besieged country thanked Musk, 50, for his support on Twitter and asked him to visit Ukraine after the war is ended.
‘Had a conversation with @elonmusk. I appreciate his words of support for Ukraine.
PD-1 unmanned aerial vehicles with infrared sensors are also being used by the Ukrainians. The vehicles, which have a wing span of 10 feet, are employed to gather important intelligence on Russian army movements.
The Ukrainian drone unit employs the ‘Delta’ technology, which was developed with the assistance of Western experts in recent years.
It has a’situational awareness’ programme installed that produces an interactive map utilising photos from drones, satellites, human intelligence, and sensors to build a physical picture to aid in the tracking of the enemy.
The system, which is supposed to be comparable to NATO technology, is thought to have been tested during the Black Sea Sea Breeze military exercise.
With the assistance of Western countries, the Ukrainians have developed the system, which now boasts radio communications that are superior to Soviet-era equipment. The technology is alleged to have cost the US millions of dollars to safeguard against Russian hacking.
However, as Russia continues its assault, there are still concerns that the system may be harmed by internet disruption, resulting in power outages and internet connectivity challenges.
Starlink, on the other hand, is now Ukraine’s most popular app, with over 100,000 downloads in the few weeks since it launched. It uses terminals that look like TV dishes with antennas that have so far addressed those concerns, with satellites mounted on roofs to allow Ukraine citizens to access the Internet via satellite in rural or disconnected areas.
Ukraine has gotten thousands of antennas from Musk’s companies and European allies, according to the country’s minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, who said in an interview with The Washington Post that the technology has already proven’very effective.’
‘We are using thousands, in the area of thousands, of terminals with new shipments arriving every other day,’ the official revealed, speaking on how the satellites have proved instrumental in helping citizens and leaders communicate as the Kremlin continues its large-scale attacks in cities across Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence warned last week that Moscow is ‘likely’ targeting Ukraine’s communications infrastructure.
Fedorov, who is also the country’s vice-prime minister, sent Musk a tweet shortly after the invasion, requesting access to Starlink stations.
‘Starlink service is currently operating in Ukraine,’ Musk responded just hours later. More terminals are on their way.’
Trucks carrying Starlink terminals, as well as adapters that provide power via cigarette lighters in cars or battery packs, and a roaming feature to keep people linked while they journey to safety, arrived in Ukraine within days.
