Iran Allegedly Uses Russia’s Kalinka System to Disrupt Starlink Service

Western experts are exploring the possibility of Iran using Russia's Kalinka electronic warfare system to target the Starlink satellite network. Russia developed the system as a countermeasure against space-based internet systems following the invasion of Ukraine.

Western experts and intelligence are discussing the possibility of Iran using advanced Russian electronic warfare (EW) technologies against the Starlink satellite network. This refers to the "Kalinka" system, which Russia developed as a countermeasure against space internet systems after the invasion of Ukraine began, The Caspian Post reports, citing foreign media.

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As the current US military dominance and the effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine largely depend on stable satellite communications, Russia and China have intensified efforts to create means of neutralizing it.

Evolution of satellite systems and the role of SpaceX

For decades, US military satellites were cumbersome and vulnerable due to their complexity and high replacement cost. The solution was "disaggregation" - a transition to constellations of thousands of small, cheaper, and interchangeable devices.

Elon Musk's company SpaceX implemented this concept in the Starlink system, ensuring unprecedented network survivability: even the loss of some satellites does not stop the entire system from working.

War in Ukraine as a testing ground for anti-satellite weapons

After Starlink gave Ukraine an advantage in troop control and intelligence, the network became a priority target for US adversaries. In response, SpaceX began developing Starshield - a specialized military version of the system with enhanced protection.