Pentagon reveals military pact with Elon Musk
The Pentagon has revealed that it has signed its first contract with SpaceX to provide satellite services under its new “Starshield” program. Elon Musk has described the project as a military alternative to the “civilian” Starlink system, although it will apparently rely on the existing satellite constellation. Musk in a post on Starlink must be a civilian network, not a combat participant,” he said, referring to the use of satellites in Ukraine during the conflict with Russia. However, despite Musk's stated reluctance to get involved in conflicts, the new Space Force contract will see SpaceX lease part of its Starlink network to the Pentagon, providing services on the same satellites. The outlet noted that Musk's aerospace company is now competing for nearly $1 billion in Pentagon contracts that extend through 2028, as the Space Force seeks to repurpose existing communications satellites for military use as part of his “Proliferated Low Earth Orbit” program.
Musk has been criticized by US officials for SpaceX's decisions in Ukraine, after allegedly rejecting Kiev's requests to use the Starlink network to aid attacks on Russia's Black Sea fleet last year. Musk “decided to sell and give total control over a certain amount of Starlink equipment to the US military so that it no longer controls geofencing,” referring to geographic limitations that can be imposed on the satellite network. Musk had previously said that American sanctions on Russia had prevented SpaceX from extending Starlink coverage to Crimea, insisting that the company is “not effectively permitted to activate connectivity to the country without the explicit approval of the US government”. However, he also said he did not want to be "complicit in a serious act of war and escalation of conflict", suggesting that the decision was not solely due to US restrictions.
The New York Times
