Starlink from SpaceX is awarded a Pentagon contract for satellite services for Ukraine

The Defense Department has awarded SpaceX’s Starlink, the satellite communications service founded by billionaire Elon Musk, a contract to purchase satellite services for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced Thursday.

“We continue to collaborate with a variety of international partners to provide Ukraine with the satellite and communication capabilities they require. Satellite communications are a vital component of Ukraine’s overall communications network, and the department contracts with Starlink to provide these services, according to a Pentagon statement.

The Ukrainian military has utilized Starlink for a variety of purposes, including battlefield communications.

Since the beginning of the conflict in 2022, SpaceX has provided Ukrainians and the country’s military with Starlink internet service, a rapidly expanding network of more than 4,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, through private donations and a distinct contract with a U.S. foreign assistance agency.

The Pentagon contract is a boon for SpaceX after Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, stated in October that the company could not afford to fund Starlink in Ukraine indefinitely, a project Musk stated required $20 million per month to maintain.

Russia has attempted to cut off and disrupt internet services in Ukraine, including attempts to obstruct Starlink in the region, but SpaceX has responded by hardening the software for the service.

Due to operational security concerns and the critical nature of these systems, the Pentagon did not disclose the terms of the contract, which was reported by Bloomberg earlier on Thursday.