"Starlink Killer." Russia Prepares Strong Response to Musk and the US

“The Russians have an answer to the world's largest low-orbit communications system built by Elon Musk. Bureau 1440 is starting tests in a surprising place.

 

Russia cannot launch as many satellites as SpaceX, but 100 will be enough

Russia is preparing a pilot project that will provide the Nenets Autonomous Okrug with low-orbit satellite communications. Tests in this region, which administratively belongs to the Arkhangelsk Oblast, will begin next year. According to Russian media, full implementation is planned for 2027.

Russia to Build Its Own Starlink

This solution is to be a response to the American Starlinks, which successfully provide, among other things, communications for Ukrainians on the front. Behind the Russian response to the technology developed by SpaceX is Bureau 1440, a company that is part of the Moscow-based ICS holding. Its system is to provide internet in areas where the terrestrial communication network is unavailable. In total, Russia wants to have 292 devices of its own design by 2026, and 383 by 2030. Anton Lebedev, deputy governor of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, quoted by the RIA Novosti agency, argues that Russian satellite internet is a cheap and good quality technology. It has already been called the "Starlink killer".

 

The system is based on satellites placed in low orbit, i.e. at an altitude of about 500 to 1,000 km above the ground, which increases the speed of data transfer and reduces network delays. Meanwhile, traditional geostationary communication is based on satellites located thousands of kilometers from Earth.

 

The Kremlin is keen to build the so-called space internet to provide connectivity in the Far North, which is related to plans to increase Russia's presence in the Arctic.

 

A Step to Arctic Domination

 

At the beginning of 2023, CNews wrote that ICS Holding intends to launch satellites into low orbit. The first mission, Rassvet -1, took place two years ago. Tests conducted at that time showed that it was possible to provide a connection at a speed of 48 Mb/s, with a latency of 42 ms. Such indicators would allow for making high-quality video calls with several people at the same time or watching online TV in 4K resolution.

 

Currently, in addition to the Starlink system developed by Elon Musk, similar solutions are being developed by the Chinese and companies in Europe. However, SpaceX is the most advanced - it has over 5,000 satellites in orbit. Musk's company uses reusable rockets to launch its satellites, which reduces costs. At the same time, it takes 20-40 devices of this type into orbit.

 

Russia is currently able to expand its satellite network 10 times slower. However, Moscow is not concerned about this, because it has no plans to provide connectivity worldwide, only within its own territory. It is estimated that it needs over 100 satellites for this purpose, although the optimal solution would be around 600.

 

It is worth emphasizing that ICS Holding, as well as the companies that make up its components, have been subject to US sanctions since February 2022. As is the founder of the company, Anton Cherepienov himself. Since 2023, the holding has been on a financial drip from the Kremlin, and its actual capabilities in terms of building a satellite constellation should be considered significantly smaller than declared. So far, only six satellites have been confirmed to be placed in low orbit - three in 2023 and three in 2024. The Russian budget for 2025-2026 includes 9.35 billion rubles (approx. PLN 420 million) of government aid for projects related to a total of 66 satellites.”