The Pentagon and SpaceX extended the contract to provide access to Starlink in Ukraine

Ukraine usage Starlink almost until the end of the year. The Pentagon, through the US Space Force, signed a new agreement with SpaceX continue to provide access to satellite Internet in this country while the war with Russia continues.

In accordance with Bloombergthe new contract between the Ministry of Defense and Elon Musk regulates until November 30 and this is for 14.1 million dollars. This figure includes access to the Starlink satellite constellation, its antennas and customer service.

As such, the Pentagon and SpaceX are deepening their relationship to ensure connectivity in the critical region. Since the war began, Starlink has become an essential tool in the daily lives of Ukrainians. Not only because it allowed telecommunications to be restored in regions hardest hit by the conflict, where troops responding to the Kremlin sabotaged and destroyed telephone and Internet infrastructure, but especially because it was adopted on the front lines of combat.

It is worth remembering that as soon as the war began, the costs of operating Starlink in Ukraine were largely borne by SpaceX. It is true that Poland, the US and the UK, as well as non-governmental organizations and other participants, donated some of the first 25,000 antennas that were sent to Ukraine. However, it has been estimated that at least 70% of the internet services deployed in the area were paid for by SpaceX itself.

In October 2022 Elon Musk He argued that his company could not continue to pay Ukraine to continue free access to Starlink. However, the backlash to his comments led him to say a few days later that his company would continue to bear these costs. “To hell with all this. Even as Starlink continues to lose money and other companies receive billions of dollars from taxpayers, we will continue to provide free funding to the Ukrainian government,” he said. The tycoon then pointed out that this has generated some $20 million monthly losses.

Starlink will continue to operate in Ukraine at least until the end of November

In 2023, the United States finally answered the millionaire’s request. So, she signed a contract with SpaceX for $26.4 million to manage Starlink antennas, which were sent to Ukraine. So, in addition to the $14.1 million in the new agreement, the Pentagon has already allocated more than $40 million to maintain satellite Internet operations in combat zones. A funny figure compared to others dedicated to the field of defense. However, this commitment ensures the preservation of a vital tool for the Ukrainian people and armed forces.

The extension of the agreement to maintain Starlink activity in Ukraine looks like a declaration of goodwill between the parties, and not a commercial transaction. Let’s remember that Elon Musk and the Department of Defense they had several short circuits for this situation in recent years. But not only because of the aforementioned “threat” of service interruption if no one helps SpaceX pay for it.

Unrest against Elon Musk in Ukraine has intensified after the tycoon proposed a “peace deal” with Russia. Although his most difficult moment was when the businessman admitted that he had cut off access to Starlink during Ukraine’s attack on the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. The head of the aerospace company said he did this to avoid a retaliatory strike with nuclear weapons from Vladimir Putin.

Lately, the mood between SpaceX, the Pentagon and the Ukrainian authorities seems calmer. Moreover, in May it became known that they worked together on ban Russian troops from using Starlink. Mikhail Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, explained that they provided an algorithm that allows them to block the illegal use of antennas that fall into the hands of the Russian military. However, it is unknown whether this is the solution implemented in this initiative.

That is still unknown what happens after November 30th. But if things continue as they are, it wouldn’t be strange if communications between SpaceX and the Pentagon resumed once again.