SpaceX's Starlink wins Pentagon contract for satellite services to Ukraine

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Thu Jun 1, 2023, 12:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - SpaceX's Starlink, the satellite communications service started by billionaire Elon Musk, now has a Department of Defense contract to buy those satellite services for Ukraine, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

"We continue to work with a range of global partners to ensure Ukraine has the resilient satellite and communication capabilities they need. Satellite communications constitute a vital layer in Ukraine's overall communications network and the department contracts with Starlink for services of this type," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Starlink has been used by Ukrainian troops for a variety of efforts, including battlefield communications. SpaceX, through private donations and under a separate contract with a U.S. foreign aid agency, has been providing Ukrainians and the country's military with Starlink internet service, a fast-growing network of more than 4,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, since the beginning of the war in 2022.

The Pentagon contract is a boon for SpaceX after Musk, the company's CEO, said in October it could not afford to indefinitely fund Starlink in Ukraine, an effort he said cost $20 million a month to maintain. Russia has tried to cut off and jam internet services in Ukraine, including attempts to block Starlink in the region, though SpaceX has countered those attacks by hardening the service's software.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/pentagon-buys-starlink-ukraine-statement-2023-06-01/

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Short article at post time.

Article updated.

Original article/headline -

Pentagon buys Starlink for Ukraine - statement

WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - Starlink, the satellite communications service started by billionaire Elon Musk, now has a Department of Defense contract to buy those satellite services for Ukraine, the Pentagon said in a statement on Thursday.

"We continue to work with a range of global partners to ensure Ukraine has the resilient satellite and communication capabilities they need. Satellite communications constitute a vital layer in Ukraine's overall communications network and the department contracts with Starlink for services of this type," the statement said.

[EYESORE 9001]

1. He better not fuck with it either

I don’t trust that humanoid any farther than I could transport him, and I just don’t have that technology. Yet.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Actually they have Elon over the barrel now.

The DOD had no way to guaranty that the Starlink services were available to Ukraine. If Elon interferes with those services he can be held in breach of contract. The financial consequences and the negative publicity that would result should be enough to keep Elon in check.

[EYESORE 9001]

3. Good

If I had my little way, I’d drop him like a bad habit. I guess it’s better to have him on a short leash with OUR government contracts than running amok god-knows-where. Hope he doesn’t have access to stuff that’s too highly classified.

[2naSalit]

7. +1

[Zilli]

4. I wouldn't trust Musk not to sabotage this link.

or maybe he might provide the russians with a nice listening line.....
When little elon showed us what he was, I believed him. This is absurd!

[PortTack]

9. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[LymphocyteLover]

10. I wouldn't trust Musk to do anything decent at this point

I hope the Pentagon is wary of him

[flying_wahini]

5. I could see Musk using anything he believes valuable to send to his buddy Putin.

He is a traitor and not to be trusted.

[EX500rider]

13. If Putin is his "buddy" why has Starlink been suppling Ukr with their service at their expense?

It has been one of the things the Ukr military says has been the most helpful.

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/03/black-swan-starlinks-unexpected-boon-ukraines-defenders/383514/

1. Musk could have stayed neutral and supplied neither side with Starlink

2. Musk could have supplied Russia with Starlink and not the Ukr

3. Musk could have supplied both with Starlink

4. and what he did do is supply only Ukr with Starlink

[LiberalLovinLug]

17. I also was worried about him f'ing with or denying Ukraine the services

But not because Putin is his "buddy".
Its because Musk has shown the sad, but strangely more common than I thought, propensity to be dumb enough to be suckered in by Putin's propaganda. Just like the whole MAGA extreme right is. He already overpaid for Twitter as his own personal project to "save" America from all the left wing disinformation he believes has ruined Twitter. And that they had unjustly banned extreme right wingers.

More dangerous than some white trailer trash getting brainwashed by RW lies, and Russian trolls, is one of the richest men on the planet falling for it.

You are right in that he has so far only threatened once to cut them off. But he hasn't. And there was no indication he was going to. But I don't trust any of the brainwashed MAGATs, especially an industry leader like Musk, to not just flip 180 on providing Starlink services to Ukraine. Now the DoD is in charge of it and paid for it. I'm very relieved

[Lancero]

21. It's a publicity stunt that spiraled out of control.

No one expected Ukraine to put up this much of a fight. They asked for support, he gave it to them because hey - Free good will. The equipment will be a loss when Russia rolls over them in a month or so, but that's worth the publicity.

Now though, with Ukraine having shown their ability to kick Russias ass week after week, it's become problematic. So, he's been trying to cut back his support wherever he can, because it's starting to tick off his Russian buddies.

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2023/02/spacex-now-says-they-dont-want-starlink-be-weaponized-ukraine/382797/

He knows he can't pull out entirely. That'll burn what little good will he and his companies have in the US. No matter how much he tries to claim "neutrality". And thanks to this deal, he can't claim poverty like he tried last year.

[SledDriver]

6. Then it should be nationalized.

Take control away from Phony Stark.

[2naSalit]

8. +1

[japple]

11. If Starlink is as unreliable for the Pentagon as it is in Subaru audio system, Ukraine

is in big trouble. Even Subaru is giving Starlink the boot.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. The OP has a part of the excerpt that says that the Ukraine military has already been using it

But it is being paid for mostly by private funding. With this contract, they would get more dedicated funding from a deep pocket (the Pentagon).

Starlink has been used by Ukrainian troops for a variety of efforts, including battlefield communications. SpaceX, through private donations and under a separate contract with a U.S. foreign aid agency, has been providing Ukrainians and the country's military with Starlink internet service.

[japple]

16. Well, my Starlink audio system worked fine for a couple of years, then it started

cutting out. Now I can't pick up public broadcasting signals from stations 35 miles away and the bluetooth is spotty. I hope the Ukrainian forces have a reliable backup.

[Lancero]

20. Subaru Starlink and SpaceX Starlink are different things.

I'm honestly surprised that Subaru hasn't sued SpaceX for jacking the name though.

[PlutosHeart]

14. Why is Musk not cut off

from all these contracts and free rides?

There is no debate on his pro-Russia pro-multiple bad positions.

[ripcord]

15. Probably because no other companies can provide the same services

[Calista241]

18. I wouldn't say he's pro-Russia.

In the beginning of the war, he re-tasked Starlink satellites to cover Ukraine, which previously didn't have full coverage service. He spent his own money to do this. While he's been paid for the service since, there's no telling if he's recouped all his costs or not.

He started to get cold feet 6-7 months ago because he fears a nuclear reaction to Russia. You and I, and President Biden, may believe that's not possible, but it's not an entirely unreasonable fear.

Starlink has single handedly change war reporting, communication, planning and execution. The Pentagon almost had to invest in Starlink just to make sure it's not used against us in some future conflict.

[PlutosHeart]

19. Then maybe surrounding him self

with Russian and oligarch sympathizers might have given me that impression. My bad.

[xabriel]

22. Making a pactof the devil

Elon musk is a Trump loving putin fan