In a significant development impacting Ukraine’s military strategies and its allies, Russia has reportedly introduced an advanced system capable of detecting and targeting signals from unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UAVs) that rely on satellite communication networks like Elon Musk’s Starlink. This innovative system, termed the “Starlink Killer” and officially named the Kalinka Monitoring System, is a product of Russia’s Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies (CBST).
The introduction of Starlink communication terminals by SpaceX has been pivotal in Ukraine’s defense operations since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022. The terminals have facilitated critical military communications and enabled control of UAVs and maritime drones, often deployed by Ukrainian forces for operations within Russian territories. However, the emergence of the Kalinka system threatens to disrupt this technological advantage.
According to Andrey Bezrukov, chairman of the CBST board, the Kalinka monitoring system is already undergoing testing in Ukraine. It is designed to detect and locate aerial and maritime drones up to 15 kilometers away, leveraging the principles of radio signal transmission. Bezrukov emphasized the system’s ability to identify and target Starlink communication terminals used by Ukrainian forces and hinted at its capacity to monitor Starshield, a militarized version of Starlink.
“The basic principles of radio signal transmission have not changed since the invention of the radio,” Bezrukov noted, underlining the system’s foundational technology. Kalinka’s detection range, he added, depends on the geographical terrain and the electronic systems employed by opposing forces.
Kalinka’s potential extends beyond UAVs, with claims that it can identify maritime drones and advanced technologies like the “Baba Yaga” drones. The system’s ability to disrupt satellite-linked communications could shift the dynamics of the battlefield, significantly hindering Ukraine’s reliance on Starlink for operational coordination.
Regarding the production timeline for Kalinka, Bezrukov indicated that scaling up would depend on the Russian military’s demand in active conflict zones. If successful, Kalinka could mark a strategic shift in electronic warfare, with the increasing role of satellite communications and countermeasures in modern conflicts.
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