President Vladimir Putin announced Russia is developing a satellite-based system to control combat drones, aiming to reduce reliance on ground communications and extend drone range. The initiative involves launching satellites for a low-orbit constellation, described as a "counterpart" to Starlink.
This development signifies Russia's strategic push to enhance its drone capabilities by leveraging space-based technology, potentially altering battlefield dynamics and reducing vulnerabilities associated with ground communication systems. It also highlights the ongoing technological competition in military applications.
Russia is developing a satellite-based system for controlling combat drones, President Vladimir Putin announced, according to the Interfax news agency. This initiative aims to reduce the military's dependence on ground-based communications and extend the operational range of unmanned aerial systems.
Putin stated that Russia has already begun launching satellites to create a low-orbit constellation, which he described as a "counterpart" to Starlink. He indicated that this work is continuing in 2024-2025 and involves a private entity, though he did not name the company. The development is part of broader modernization efforts and aligns with global trends toward autonomous, beyond-line-of-sight UAV capabilities.
In a separate report, Russian news agencies stated that Putin issued a decree setting the size of the Russian military at 2,399,130 individuals, including 1,510,000 service members. Meanwhile, Ukraine and SpaceX have introduced measures to block Starlink terminals used by Russian occupation forces, as Russian troops have reportedly used Starlink systems on drones to bypass Ukrainian air defenses.