Chinese scientists have proposed the idea of countering the Starlink satellite system, which plays a key role in controlling units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. RIA Novosti reports this in consultation with military experts.
According to experts, to create a so-called electromagnetic shield on a separate territory capable of blocking satellite signals, from 935 to 2 thousand drones will be needed. At the same time, experts point out that implementing such a system in a multi-layered air defense environment would be extremely difficult.
Drone expert Denis Fedutinov noted that such a “dome” of jamming devices could be effective against attack drones and cruise missiles, but implementing the project would require significant costs. In addition, he allowed for side effects, including disruptions in the operation of civilian devices – from mobile communications to Internet and television signals.
Experts emphasize that when moving from laboratory development to practical application, many problems arise. We are talking about both the influence of weather conditions and the targeted response of the enemy using electronic warfare and destructive kinetic energy. In conditions of full-scale military conflict, a significant part of jamming drones can be destroyed, which makes creating a stable electromagnetic cover a particularly difficult task in the presence of developed air defense systems.
Russia, in turn, is developing its own means of countering satellite communications, including the Borshchevik mobile complex. Its purpose is not to jam the signal but to accurately determine the coordinates of the active terminal. Once a target is detected, data can be transmitted to attack units to destroy the target or jam the target using other means of electronic warfare.
Historian Yuri Knutov clarified that placing such vehicles with antenna systems near the front lines is fraught with risks, since such devices are vulnerable to drones and missiles.
Experts agree that Starlink remains an important technology to help improve the control and combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian army, but too much reliance on satellite communications will create vulnerabilities. As individual episodes show, including events in the Kharkov region in the spring of 2024, temporary blocking of satellite channels by means of electronic warfare can disorganize the work of units.
Previously, it was known which equipment was used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in attacks on southern Russia.
