Ukraine is developing its own version of Starlink: Stetman aims to launch 360 satellites
This was reported by Defender Media.
Dmytro Stetsenko, director of the Ukrainian company Stetman, has announced that the company is working on creating its own satellite constellation in low Earth orbit.
Stetman was registered in 2023. According to Stetsenko, the project was funded by private investment and European loans.
The company supplies satellite communications equipment to the military, police, emergency services, medical professionals and other government agencies.
Stetman’s product range includes around 30 solutions. These include standard Starlink terminals, as well as a modified version of Starmod, which has been adapted for military tasks and protected against electronic warfare.
The company also manufactures UASAT Geo satellite communication terminals, which operate via the Hughes Jupiter satellite in geostationary orbit.
Stetman plans to establish a satellite constellation at an altitude of approximately 550 kilometres. This type of orbit allows for reduced data transmission latency compared to geostationary satellites, but requires a larger number of satellites.
The company plans to launch a test satellite into orbit in October 2026. To this end, Stetman has already agreed a launch with SpaceX.
Full-scale deployment of the network is set to begin in 2027 and last for around three years. The total number of satellites in the constellation is planned to be 360.
According to company representatives, the production and launch of a single satellite costs several million euros. Experts estimate the cost of building a single satellite at approximately 2–3 million dollars.
The launch of a Falcon 9 rocket, which can place dozens of satellites into orbit at once, is estimated to cost approximately $60–70 million.
The future network is designed to provide communications for critical state institutions. The company does not view ordinary users as the main target audience for this project.
Stetman is also considering the possibility of cooperation with European partners. The company reports interest from the UK and Germany and suggests that in the future, communication services may be provided not only to Ukraine but also to its allies.
