Overview

• Publicly released papers by government-linked researchers outline active countermeasures for Starlink, including laser strikes, custom attack satellites and supply-chain sabotage.
• Scientists at China’s National University of Defence Technology cite Starlink’s potential military and espionage applications as a direct threat to national security.
• Reports note that since 2022, Starlink has delivered critical battlefield connectivity for drone operations and intelligence sharing in Ukraine.
• Starlink’s more than 8,000 satellites comprise over two-thirds of active orbiters, far outpacing Amazon’s Project Kuiper (78 satellites) and Europe’s IRIS2.
• The US Department of Defense’s contracts for Starlink and SpaceX’s secretive Starshield program have heightened strategic competition in space communications.