Russia may be preparing an attack on Starlink with new satellite weapons
The intelligence services of two NATO countries suspect that Russia is working on a new type of anti-satellite weapon that could be directed against the Starlink, owned by SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk. This is reported by Associated Press, citing intelligence sources.
According to available information, we are talking about the so-called impact zone, which involves the release of hundreds of thousands of metal particles in the Starlink orbits. Such a cloud of debris can simultaneously damage a large number of satellites, but at the same time poses a threat to the entire near-Earth infrastructure.
Analysts note that the implementation of such a system could have uncontrollable consequences. Debris can damage not only Starlink, but also satellites of other countries, including Russia and China, which also depend on orbital communication and navigation systems.
Starlink plays a key role in the war against Ukraine. Thousands of satellites in low earth orbit, about 550 kilometres above the Earth, provide high-speed internet for Ukraine's military, civilian infrastructure and government. Russian officials have repeatedly said that commercial satellites that help Ukraine can be considered legitimate targets.
This year, Moscow also announced the deployment of the S 500 surface-to-air missile system, capable of hitting targets in low orbit. At the same time, the new concept, according to intelligence reports, is distinguished by the fact that it allows attacking many satellites at once without a direct missile strike.
Space security experts emphasise that even the experimental use of such weapons can lead to a chain reaction of collisions in orbit. This poses a threat to the International Space Station and China's Tiangong Station, which operate in lower orbits.
Kremlin has not officially commented on this information. Earlier, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has no plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space and supports international restrictions on the militarisation of orbit.
