Europe's Starlink dependence sharpens as Ukraine outages expose gaps

Disruptions to Ukraine's access to the military version of Starlink satellite communications have intensified European concerns about dependence on US technology, according to Bloomberg. European countries are seeking to develop their own satellite systems to independently ensure critical communications and defense needs. The Starshield service outages affected Ukrainian drones, including those on strike missions and intercepting aerial targets, while Europe lacks a ready alternative for frontline use. European nations also rely on US space surveillance systems for missile launch detection, creating strategic risks tied to Washington's decisions. The EU is developing the IRIS² satellite system to provide secure communications for government and military use, with limited services starting in January 2026 and full deployment expected by 2029. Alternatives like OneWeb remain inferior to Starlink, and Europe cannot fully replace US satellite technology in the near term.