Starshield: SpaceX's military satellite service for the Pentagon

Ukraine said on Wednesday that SpaceX restricted "military-grade" Starlink services, hampering Ukrainian drone strike missions and air defenses, drawing renewed attention to the distinction between Starlink and Starshield, its military counterpart. Starshield is a SpaceX business unit developing military and intelligence satellite systems for the Pentagon, using enhanced encryption and dedicated terminals but relying on the Starlink constellation as its backbone. Musk said Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, while Starlink is a commercial service limited to civilian or defensive activities. The Pentagon, Starshield's largest customer, has spent billions on both services, including dedicated satellites for missile-warning and spy missions. Britain has adopted Starshield, and New Zealand is trialing the system, while disputes over pricing between the two services have emerged previously.