Britain Adopts SpaceX Starshield For Military Operations

Britain has begun using SpaceX’s Starshield satellite network for military operations, according to two people familiar with the matter. The move makes the United Kingdom one of the first countries outside the United States to deploy the government-focused satellite service developed by Elon Musk’s company.

Starshield is a specialised version of SpaceX’s satellite communications technology designed for military and intelligence applications. Unlike the standard Starlink network, which serves consumers and commercial customers, Starshield offers enhanced security features tailored to sensitive government missions.

Defence Ministry Shifts Operational Traffic

According to the sources, Britain’s Ministry of Defence started transferring operational military communications to Starshield around the beginning of this year.

The ministry did not directly comment on Starshield in a statement to Reuters. However, it confirmed that personnel continue to use Starlink for non-operational purposes, including maintaining contact with family members during overseas deployments.

The ministry also stated that Starlink is not used for military operations and noted that the armed forces rely on a range of communications suppliers and technologies.

SpaceX did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Starshield Distinct From Starlink

SpaceX has increasingly sought to distinguish Starshield from its broader Starlink satellite broadband network. While Starlink remains the company’s primary revenue-generating business, Starshield is specifically intended for government, defence and intelligence customers.

The distinction has become more important as military organisations around the world expand their use of satellite communications. SpaceX has previously stated that Starlink should not be integrated into weapons systems.

Last month, Reuters reported that SpaceX significantly increased the price charged to the Pentagon for Starlink services reportedly used to support operations involving kamikaze drones targeting Iran. Elon Musk later said the higher charges reflected the use of Starlink rather than Starshield, which he argued should have been utilised instead.

Military Interest In Satellite Networks Grows

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, military interest in satellite-based communications has accelerated worldwide. Ukraine’s extensive use of Starlink for communications and drone operations highlighted the strategic importance of low-Earth-orbit satellite networks during modern conflicts.

In 2023, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the company had limited Ukraine’s use of Starlink for offensive military operations. SpaceX has also attempted to prevent what it described as unauthorised access to Starlink services by Russian forces operating in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment regarding possible Starshield use.

Britain Expands Satellite Communications Capabilities

The British military first adopted Starlink technology in July 2022. According to a UK government response to a Reuters freedom of information request in May 2025, the armed forces possessed approximately 1,000 Starlink terminals as of spring last year.

The scale of Britain’s Starshield deployment remains unclear. One source indicated that the service costs only slightly more than Starlink and that the Ministry of Defence obtains access through third-party distributors rather than contracting directly with SpaceX.

Another source, described as an industry specialist with close links to the ministry, said it had been instructed to move operational communications onto Starshield but did not identify who issued the directive.

Other NATO countries have also incorporated Starlink into their communications infrastructure. Poland, which has funded significant Starlink access for Ukraine, previously confirmed that its military uses the network alongside other commercial and military satellite systems.

Meanwhile, the Dutch Defence Ministry said this week that it operates a limited number of Starlink terminals, although most of its satellite communications requirements are met through alternative platforms. The ministry declined to disclose whether the terminals support operational activities.

With inputs from Reuters