160 km/h limit breaks connection during drone interceptor flights against Shahed
Presidential advisor on defense technologies Serhiy Beskrestnov stated that Ukraine is conducting active negotiations with the Pentagon, SpaceX, and the US government to remove a 160 km/h speed limit on the military Starshield system. This limit disrupts connectivity during movement, significantly hindering the operation of Ukrainian drone interceptors. This was reported by Glavcom, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
According to Presidential Advisor Serhiy Beskrestnov, known by the military callsign Flash, Ukraine is currently engaged in active negotiations with the Pentagon, SpaceX, and the US government. The goal of these talks is to eliminate the 160 kilometers per hour speed restriction on the military version of the Starshield satellite communication network. Beskrestnov noted that the final decision has not yet been made.
Technical obstacles for drone interceptors
The imposed speed limit causes connection interruptions during active vehicle movement. This creates critical issues for Ukrainian drone interceptors and helicopters used to destroy enemy Shahed-type fixed-wing and rotary-wing UAVs. Due to communication disruptions, these drones become easier targets for Russian strike systems.
Political nature of the issue
Beskrestnov emphasized that the problem extends beyond purely technical or business interests and has a political dimension. Starshield systems are not deployed on Russian territory nor used to attack Russian oil refineries, but sudden changes in network operation have jeopardized the stability of combat calculations. Previously, the system functioned without such limits.
Reaction from SpaceX and US leadership
SpaceX founder Elon Musk stated that the service is controlled by the US government. President Donald Trump denied issuing direct orders to block communications and confirmed good relations with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While partial network outages have been resolved, the speed barrier remains in place.
Alternative communication options
Due to the continued restrictions, the Ukrainian side is considering switching to more expensive aviation packages or using alternative providers such as Amazon and OneWeb (Eutelsat). Simultaneously, efforts continue to counter Russian electronic warfare systems and develop solutions against the enemy’s ‘Rassvet’ satellite network.
Photo: AP
