UK deepens reliance on Musk's SpaceX, spending nearly $40 million on satellite services
Britain said Starshield now carries operational military traffic as it expands use of SpaceX services for secure communications.
- Britain has spent nearly $40 million on SpaceX satellite services, becoming the first country outside the U.S. to publicly acknowledge using Starshield, SpaceX's specialized network for military and intelligence missions.
- The defence ministry began using Starlink in mid-2022 but shifted operational military communications traffic to Starshield, which offers enhanced encryption and military-specific terms of service compared to civilian-focused alternatives.
- Britain reported spending about £13 million on Starshield and £16.5 million on Starlink, with current inventory showing 1,000 Starshield terminals and 500 Starlink terminals in operation.
- The investment deepens reliance on Elon Musk's company for military communications, despite growing European concerns about dependence on U.S. security infrastructure and uncertainty about Washington's long-term commitment to the continent.
- While Britain maintains its own military satellite network, Skynet, and holds shares in France-based Eutelsat, the move occurs amid political friction following Musk's repeated public criticism of the government during Keir Starmer's premiership.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Britain's Quiet Embrace of Musk's Starshield Exposes NATO's Satellite Dependence
Britain has publicly confirmed operating 1,000 Starshield terminals and spending nearly $40 million on SpaceX services, marking the first non-US acknowledgment of the militarized network. The shift from consumer Starlink, used to support Ukraine and British troops, highlights deepening NATO reliance on private satellite infrastructure amid battlefield demands.
UK deepens reliance on Musk's SpaceX, spending nearly $40 million on satellite services
Britain has spent nearly $40 million on SpaceX satellite services, deepening its reliance on Elon Musk's company for military communications despite growing European concerns about dependence on U.S. security infrastructure.
Key takeaways The British government has increased its reliance on Elon Musk's SpaceX by investing nearly 34 million euros in satellite connectivity. The expenditure makes the United Kingdom the first country outside the United States to officially confirm the use of Starshield, a specialized network designed for intelligence and defense operations. Infrastructure According to […]
Despite EU concerns, the UK is increasing its dependence on the US space company SpaceX and is investing around EUR 34 million in its satellite services.
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