Russia has unveiled a new electronic warfare system designed to disrupt communications between SpaceX's Starlink satellites and ground terminals, highlighting the growing importance of satellite internet networks in modern warfare.
The system, known as Volna Kupol Garant, is intended to interfere with Starlink communications by directing concentrated high-frequency radio signals toward satellites in low-Earth orbit rather than targeting user terminals on the ground, according to Russian and Ukrainian reports cited by technology publication TechRadar.
Russian officials say the system temporarily interrupts communications without physically damaging the satellites.
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, provides satellite internet connectivity through a constellation of thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites. The service is widely used in remote areas and disaster zones and has become a critical communications tool for Ukraine's military since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, enabling battlefield communications and the operation of long-range drones. SpaceX has blocked Russian military access to the network.
According to the reports, Volna Kupol Garant differs from conventional electronic warfare systems by transmitting a narrow, high-frequency radio beam directly toward Starlink satellites. Russian and Ukrainian accounts say the signal overwhelms the satellites' receivers, temporarily preventing them from detecting transmissions from ground terminals within the affected area.
The system reportedly consists of six trailer-mounted modules, each carrying two steerable satellite antennas housed beneath protective radomes. The antennas can remain mounted on the trailers or be deployed as fixed ground installations, allowing operators greater flexibility depending on operational requirements.
A Starlink terminal in Lyman, Ukraine
(Photo: Reuters)
According to Ukrainian defense officials, a single system can disrupt Starlink connectivity across an area of up to 20 square kilometers (7.7 square miles), making it suitable for protecting military bases, logistics hubs and other strategic facilities rather than broad geographic regions.
The system's large size, however, may also make it vulnerable. Ukrainian forces say they have already identified and destroyed several Volna Kupol Garant systems after detecting their emissions, making them priority targets for drone strikes. Reuters was unable to independently verify those claims.
The emergence of dedicated Starlink-jamming technology reflects the increasingly important role electronic warfare is playing in the conflict. Both Russia and Ukraine rely heavily on drones, satellite communications and precision-guided systems, prompting an ongoing technological contest between new battlefield capabilities and countermeasures.
Beyond Ukraine, analysts say technologies capable of disrupting commercial satellite internet services could have broader implications for future conflicts. Starlink is used commercially in dozens of countries, including Israel, where it is marketed primarily as an emergency communications backup. Israeli airline El Al has also announced plans to introduce Starlink-based Wi-Fi service on its aircraft.