Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) have been testing Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service with plans to adopt the technology next year, the Japanese media reported citing the country’s defense chief.
The Japanese military has been testing the U.S. company’s network for their land, sea and air forces since March 2023. The Asian country is considering officially adopting the system from the fiscal year, beginning in April 2024, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported.
Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada confirmed the development. “In recent years, threats to the unfettered use of space have been increasing, and it is important to improve the resilience of satellite communications by using multiple communications satellite networks,” Minister Hamada was quoted as saying by The Japan Times.
Why Starlink?
This shift would mark a significant change in Japan’s existing setup as Japan’s SDF currently uses two of its own X-band satellites. According to local media reports, the Starlink system will enable Japan to effectively collaborate with the United States and other allied countries, facilitating the joint utilization of their respective satellites in times of contingencies.
Japan’s decision to test this system for its military comes after Starlink technology was deployed by Ukraine on the battlefield since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. SpaceX’s cutting-edge satellite internet system, known as Starlink, is managed by the billionaire founder of SpaceX and Twitter. The company has earned a reputation for its resilience and ability to withstand jamming since it was adopted by the Ukrainian military last year.
The news comes after the Pentagon disclosed that it has signed a contract with Starlink for use by the Ukraine military. “We continue to work with a range of global partners to ensure Ukraine has the resilient satellite and communication capabilities they need. Satellite communications constitute a vital layer in Ukraine’s overall communications network and the department contracts with Starlink for services of this type,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Starlink satellite system
Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. There are currently about 4,300 active Starlink satellites in space, according to a tabulation by Jonathan McDowell, an expert tracker of spaceflight activity.
