The American company SpaceX has signed a contract with the Pentagon to expand Ukraine’s access to the Starlink network.
The agreement provides that 2 thousand 500 Starlink terminals already operating in Ukraine will gain access to Starshield. This is a classified, more secure and militarized version of Starlink. It is more difficult to break or jam. Previously, half a thousand terminals were connected to Starshield. This was reported by Bloomberg with reference to the Office of Commercial Satellites, Space Systems Command.
The contracts have the overall goal of facilitating internet connectivity in Ukraine. Both contracts provide for the provision of services through 2025, the department noted.
The agreement was signed back in August of this year, but this information was not made public. Current US President Joe Biden wanted to give Kyiv more leverage before Donald Trump began implementing his plan to end the war in Ukraine.
Bloomberg writes that Space Systems Command declined to disclose the cost of the new contract. However, he points out that a preliminary agreement with the European Command of the US Armed Forces for 500 terminals was concluded for about $40 million.
Let us recall that in October the American edition of The Washington Post reported that illegal Starlink terminals helped Russian troops advance at the front and, in particular, capture Ugledar.
Source: Bloomberg
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.