Russia, NATO intelligence suspects: “Moscow developing weapon to target Starlink satellites”

Milan, Dec. 22 (LaPresse/AP) – Two intelligence agencies from NATO countries believe that Russia is developing a weapon to target Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites. According to information gathered by the Associated Press, the new weapon would be capable of striking Starlink with destructive ‘orbiting clouds’ of shards, able to release pellets to disable multiple satellites. The goal would be to curb Western space superiority, which has helped Ukraine on the battlefield. The intelligence findings were shown to AP on the condition that the agencies involved not be identified. Analysts have expressed doubts, arguing that such a weapon could create chaos in space and put other vital orbital systems at risk. However, a Canadian space commander told AP that such a weapon “is not unlikely.” Starlink services are used by Ukraine, and Russia considers the constellation a threat. According to the intelligence investigations, the destructive pellets could be small enough to evade detection. Some analysts suggest that Russia might only want such a weapon as a deterrent, or that for now it might only be a research project. The results seen by AP do not indicate when Russia might be able to implement such a system, nor do they specify whether it has been tested or the stage of research.