Hundreds of satellites should provide communication for critical state structures
The director of the Ukrainian company Stetman, Dmytro Stetsenko, said that the company is working on creating its own satellite constellation in low Earth orbit. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the publication of Defender Media, the PromPolitInform portal informs.
What does the company do
Stetman was registered in 2023. According to Stetsenko, the project was created with the help of private investments and European loans.
The company supplies satellite communication equipment for the military, police, rescue services, medics and other state structures.
The product line includes about 30 solutions. Among them are standard Starlink terminals, as well as a modified version of Starmod, adapted for military tasks and protected from electronic warfare.
The company also produces UASAT Geo satellite communication terminals, operating via the Hughes Jupiter satellite in geostationary orbit.
Satellite launch plan
The company plans to create a satellite constellation at an altitude of about 550 kilometers.
This type of orbit allows for reduced data transmission latency compared to geostationary satellites, but requires a larger number of devices.
The test satellite is to be launched into orbit in October 2026. The company has already agreed with SpaceX for the launch.
The full deployment of the network is to begin in 2027 and last about three years. The total number of satellites will be 360.
Project cost
According to company representatives, the production and launch of one satellite costs several million euros.
Experts estimate the cost of creating the device at approximately $2-3 million.
The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, which can launch dozens of satellites into orbit at the same time, is estimated at approximately $60-70 million.
Who will the network work for
The future network is focused on providing communications for critical government structures.
Ordinary users are not considered the main audience of the project.
Stetman is also considering the possibility of cooperation with European partners.
The company notes interest from the UK and Germany and suggests that in the future communication services may be provided not only to Ukraine, but also to allies.
