Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Yemeni Armed Forces: The battle is the battle of the entire Ummah and for its salvation.
Yemeni Armed Forces: We cannot tolerate any US attack or aggression in support of the Israeli enemy against Iran because it means the confiscation of the freedom, independence, and dignity of our nation.
Yemeni Armed Forces: The Israeli enemy seeks complete control over the region and implements the Zionist plan with open American support.
Yemeni Armed Forces: We affirm Yemen's principled position in rejecting the Zionist aggression against our brothers in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and any Arab or Islamic country.
Yemeni Armed Forces: We affirm our readiness to participate in targeting US ships and warships in the Red Sea if the US attacks Iran.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Iranian air defenses repel Israeli attack on military site in Shiraz.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Iran reports the activation of air defenses over Kashan.
IRGC: Operation to transport handmade bombs foiled in Gilan, north of Iran.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Iranian police says dismantled "electronic bomb" in west Tehran.
Israeli media: Drone explodes in Route 90 in Arraba after interception attempts failed.

Commercial satellites; a 'game changer' in space wars

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Axios
  • 1 Nov 2022 21:13
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

In modern wars, fighting a battle requires commercial satellites, among other things.

  • x
  • Starlink satellites
    Starlink satellites

Fears that armed conflicts on Earth are spreading deeper into space are stoked by the fact that private satellite networks that support militaries in times of war are becoming possible targets for adversarial forces.

Fighting a battle requires space, among other things. For troops on the ground, satellites offer communications, combat views, and situational awareness.

Elon Musk has been a fan favorite in Ukraine over the past few months, as he granted - though at the expense of the Biden administration - Kiev access to his international satellite-internet service, Starlink, and largely expressed his pro-Ukraine position online.

The billionaire has been largely active online in terms of making plans for Ukraine and Taiwan.

However, the man of the hour has one tool on his hand that gives him a solid amount of significance; his Starlink company, which offers internet satellite services all over the globe.

Read more: How Elon Musk became a key geopolitical figure - Axios

A senior member of the Russian Foreign Ministry Konstantin Vorontsov stated that commercial satellites may be legitimate targets during a conflict if employed for military objectives.

Commercial satellite use during warfare was once speculative, but now there are actual issues that nations need to address.

Commenting on Vorontsov's statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed that any attack on a commercial US satellite will result in retaliation from the country.

Related News

Rosatom to evacuate Bushehr NPP at slightest threat: Rosatom Chief

Putin rules out Sumy takeover, warns Ukraine over dirty bombs usage

During a news conference last week, Jean-Pierre declared, "We will pursue all methods to explore, deter, and hold Russia accountable for any such attacks."

The establishment of standards and guidelines for conduct in space is receiving attention internationally in the wake of these escalations and hardly disguised threats.

The Pentagon also claimed that the absence of fundamental standards was a serious danger to American assets. 

The National Defense Strategy study, which was released last week, stated among other things that "the risk of unintended escalation is particularly significant due to ambiguous standards of behavior."

For situational awareness on the ground, the US military has typically relied on massive, expensive satellites. Those satellites are prime candidates for attack.

According to the National Defense Strategy, constellations of "diverse, resilient, and redundant" satellites in space, similar to those being created by private enterprises, are needed to support national security.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is already planning to launch a constellation of satellites that would disperse sensors needed for missile tracking and other military operations across a large number of satellites.

Starlink's activities in Ukraine have also demonstrated to the SDA how a decentralized network of satellites might support military operations, as per a story by Sandra Erwin at SpaceNews.

This comes at a time when space companies are growing in terms of importance, increasingly providing clients with satellite remote sensing and high-bandwidth communication.

Read more: When double standards reign, Western 'humanity' dies between the lines

Commercial satellites are not only important in terms of faster internet speed and a possibly more secure connection away from government surveillance. They are taking on national security and military importance, which is shifting the playing field in space.

  • space war
  • Starlink
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Iran

Most Read

Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Politics

'Israel' risks running out of Arrow 3 interceptors within weeks: WSJ

This is the Voice of America building in Washington D.C., on Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Trump enforces mass VOA layoffs, 600 employees terminated

Iranian protestors carry portrait of Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei and anti-Israeli signs during a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, June 20, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Israeli aggression uniting Iranians, including opposition: NYT

AP
Politics

Erdogan at OIC: No to new Sykes-Picot drawn in blood

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS