Russia has once again threatened to target SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network. The renewed threats come as it’s been reported that SpaceX is developing spy satellites for the US government.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the country is “well aware” of efforts to use commercial satellite networks for US military ambitions. She further warned that this militarization could turn such technologies into “legitimate targets for retaliatory measures” by Russia.
This is not the first time Russia has threatened Starlink, which has played a critical role in supporting Ukrainian communications during the ongoing war. Additionally, the Kremlin’s development of anti-satellite weapons and their past destruction of a defunct satellite, which directly endangered Starlink satellites, add a further dimension of risk to the situation.
The Reuters report indicates SpaceX is building the satellite network under a classified $1.8 billion contract with the US National Reconnaissance Office. It will leverage the company’s Starshield program, which focuses on Starlink’s national security applications, to track targets on the ground.
