Starlink dish on a roof. Image credit: Shutterstock.
By Raquel,
Published by El Adelantado, 20 April 2025
Both China and Russia are now actively developing systems dubbed “Starlink Killers”—technologies designed to disrupt or disable Elon Musk’s Starlink and Starshield satellites, which have become vital tools for military communication, especially in conflicts like the war in Ukraine.
With tools like Russia’s Kalinka system and China’s rumored laser and electronic jamming platforms, Starlink may no longer have the sky all to itself.
Why Starlink and Starshield Are Strategic Military Tools
These counter-satellite weapons aren’t just sci-fi anymore. Russia’s Kalinka has already shown signs of disrupting Starlink signals on the battlefield, targeting not only the satellite network but also its military-grade variant, Starshield.
Meanwhile, Chinese military researchers have been busy exploring more exotic options, from microwave weapons to laser-equipped submarines aimed at disabling satellites mid-orbit. The new space race? It’s not just about reaching the stars—it’s about who can knock the other guy out of orbit first.
In late February, a tense on-air clash between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump shifted the dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine. One of the most immediate concerns was that Ukraine could potentially lose access to Starlink, the satellite system that’s become a digital lifeline in the war. As European nations scramble for backup plans, Russia and China are busy working on military-grade tech to jam or disable those very satellites.
Starlink has proven to be more than just a bunch of orbiting routers—it’s a major strategic tool. Both the commercial version and its military cousin, Starshield, have been essential on the battlefield. When Russia managed to knock out traditional satellite communication systems like Viasat, Iridium, and Inmarsat, Starlink stepped in and gave Ukraine a much-needed edge.
How SpaceX Gained the Edge with Starlink
Elon Musk’s private space company didn’t just manage to deliver more Starlink terminals and antennas to the front lines—it also stood out for its ability to resist Russian electronic warfare tactics, including cyberattacks designed to jam signals. Thanks to SpaceX’s vertical integration—building its own satellites, antennas, and even reusable rockets—the company has pulled far ahead of its rivals in both speed and innovation.
Today, Starlink has a fleet of over 7,000 satellites buzzing around in low Earth orbit. These satellites circle the planet every 90 minutes, meaning different ones are constantly passing overhead to provide service in a given area. This makes it far harder to jam the network compared to traditional satellite providers, which usually rely on just a few geostationary satellites parked 22,000 miles above Earth. Those fixed-position satellites are easier targets for disruption—Starlink, by contrast, is a moving one.
On the hunt for a Starlink Killer
The military use of SpaceX’s satellite network has pushed both Russia and China to ramp up their counter-strategies. A recent report by the Secure World Foundation pointed out that Starlink became a top target for the Kremlin after proving its value in the conflict in Ukraine.
Russia has been working on a system known as Kalinka, nicknamed the “Starlink Killer,” designed to track and disrupt secure military communications carried by Starshield, the defense-focused version of Starlink operated with support from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). According to Ukrainian sources, disruptions to Starlink service have been occurring since May 2024, allegedly due to Russia testing out advanced electronic warfare techniques. These efforts don’t just interfere with secure messaging—they’re also affecting drone operations on the battlefield.
Russia has been using a system called Tobol to jam satellite signals. Reports suggest there are at least ten Tobol units spread across Russian territory, with one likely based in Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave nestled between Lithuania and Poland. The Tobol system has also been deployed to interfere with the satellite communications used by Ukraine in its military operations. Meanwhile, EU countries like Finland, Poland, and Sweden have experienced GPS disruptions linked to its activity.
Unusual activity spotted in low-Earth orbit
China is making moves in space that have caught Washington’s attention. According to U.S. sources referenced in recent reports, China is keeping pace with Russia in developing ways to counter Starlink. The U.S. Space Force has detected Chinese satellites performing coordinated close-range maneuvers—a tactic that could, in theory, be used for things like satellite repairs or clearing space junk. But U.S. officials suspect the real goal is far more strategic: practicing how to disable or seize enemy satellites if tensions ever escalate into conflict.
These space maneuvers, combined with the growing number of Chinese satellites focused on surveillance and intelligence, have the Pentagon on high alert.
See: Original Article
