The American “Institute for the Study of War” (ISW) reported, citing Bloomberg, that SpaceX has been awarded a contract by the Pentagon to expand Ukraine's access to Starshield, an encrypted version of the Starlink satellite network that can transmit classified data and is more difficult to jam or hack.
“Ukraine's expanded access to the more advanced and secure Starshield network could give Ukrainian forces a technological advantage for more effective combat coordination and the introduction of new developments in their tactical reconnaissance and strike complex (TRSC), ahead of Russian forces”, – wrote in the ISW analysts' report.
The Commercial Satellite Directorate of the US Space Systems Command said that 3,000 Ukrainian Starlink terminals will gain access to more secure network. Previously, only 500 Ukrainian terminals had access to it.
The Ukrainian military recently reported that Russian troops are increasingly using Starlink terminals to establish combat coordination and communications, as well as to improve the accuracy of Russian tactical fire, ISW reports.