Li Xinzhou, Liu Jiajun
According to relevant Russian media reports, Russia will develop its own "Starlink system" to face the threat from Starlink. According to Russian officials, Russia has already sent the first experimental satellites into space and is determined to develop a satellite system that is not inferior to Starlink.
First, the Starlink system is deeply integrated into modern warfare
As an outstanding representative of modern science and technology, the Starlink system is gradually changing the world's communications and military landscape with its excellent performance and wide range of applications. The system is capable of solving multiple complex problems at the same time, which has unique advantages and value.
First of all, it is able to ensure reliable communication between units, effectively resisting interception and suppression. In traditional communication methods, once the enemy interferes or destroys, the communication link is easily interrupted, resulting in the inability to transmit information in time. By building a satellite network covering the whole world, the Starlink system realizes high-speed, large-capacity data transmission without dead ends, making communication more stable and reliable. Even in the harsh environment of warfare, the Starlink system can keep communications open and provide strong support for military operations.
Another advantage is that it can provide precise coordinates for rocket artillery, transforming traditional rocket artillery into high-precision weapon systems. By combining with the Starlink terminal, the rocket artillery system can obtain the coordinates of the target in real time and carry out precision strikes on the target. This high-precision strike capability not only improves combat efficiency, but in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used Starlink terminals to provide strike coordinates to rocket artillery, which repeatedly caused effective damage to the Russian side.
At the same time, the Starlink system also plays an important role in the remote control of drones. The suicide drone control platform installed with the Starlink terminal can control the drone through the satellite to achieve remote control and strike. The unmanned operation is realized, which ensures the safety of technicians and minimizes casualties.
2. Russia is embarking on building its own "Starlink"
Russia is ambitiously working to create its own "Starlink" and name it Bureau 1440. This project is not only a technical challenge, but also an important political step aimed at allowing Russia to regain the commanding heights of the space race. Bureau 1440 is more pragmatic than other grand space programs, and while important, it doesn't attract much attention from the public eye. The main task of Bureau 1440 is to build a constellation of low-orbit communications satellites to provide strong support for the country's communications undertakings. However, Sputnik-1's successful 1,440 orbits around the Earth is not only a simple technical achievement, but also a symbol of the significant contribution of Russian engineers to the world's space industry.
Bureau 1440 engineers are working the full cycle of spacecraft development: from the "resistor" to the final assembly, engineers ensure that every detail is of the highest standard. Although there are still several years before the full launch of the project, the first devices have already successfully gone into space. Three Rassvet satellites were launched into orbit by the Soyuz-12b launch vehicle, and while the current data transfer speed is only about 41 Mbps with a delay of about 100 milliseconds, this is only part of the test procedure.
3. Russia has strengthened the development of space communications
Russia has a clear plan for the future Starlink system. They plan to launch the first stage of the communications satellite as early as 2027 and have developed a detailed launch plan for this. Starting in 2025, at least 150 satellites will be put into orbit every year, and each launch vehicle will carry up to 15 Rassvet-class microsatellites. Ten years later, the group will have 900 low-orbit vehicles, forming a large and efficient network of communications satellites. This ambitious project will not only elevate Russia's position in the space sector, but also revolutionize the country's communications industry.
With the continuous progress of technology and the gradual implementation of plans, it is foreseeable that in the future, the Russian Starlink system will not be inferior to at least any existing similar system, and may even become a new benchmark leading global space communications.