Recent outages in Starlink satellite communications for Ukraine have once again brought to the forefront an issue that has been discussed in Brussels for years: how critical dependence on American space technology is for European defense. Problems with access to the military version of the system — Starshield — have reportedly affected the operation of Ukrainian drones, including those performing strike tasks and intercepting aerial targets. At the same time, analysts note that Europe lacks a ready alternative that the Ukrainian military could rapidly deploy on the front lines instead of Starlink. The situation has intensified the debate on the need to develop proprietary satellite systems so that European countries can independently ensure critical communications and defense needs.
Dependence Extends Beyond Satellite Internet
A key thesis in assessing the incident is that Europe's dependence on the US is not limited to satellite internet. European states also rely on American space surveillance systems that help detect missile launches and warn of threats. According to data cited in the context of the incident, a European equivalent of the American infrared missile launch detection system does not yet exist. This creates strategic risks: access to critical technologies is largely determined by decisions from Washington and private American companies rather than European institutions.
IRIS² and OneWeb: What Europe Already Has in Its Arsenal
Brussels' response to this dependence has been its own IRIS² satellite system, designed to provide secure communications for government agencies, the military, and critical infrastructure, thereby reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. In January 2026, the EU began launching limited secure satellite services for government and military needs under the IRIS² and GOVSATCOM initiatives. However, the full deployment of IRIS² will take several years, with the start of specific services scheduled for 2029. The OneWeb network, operated by European operator Eutelsat, is considered an alternative, but its capabilities currently lag behind Starlink: hardware characteristics, bandwidth, and terminal costs limit the network's direct use on the front lines, and switching to it requires different terminals — Starlink equipment simply does not connect to OneWeb.
National Programs and Brussels' Admission
In addition to pan-European projects, European countries are also developing national military space programs — notably, Germany is working on its own constellation of military satellites. Despite this, Europe is not yet capable of fully replacing American satellite technologies: Starlink boasts a more extensive network and more developed infrastructure, while transitioning to alternative systems requires time, funding, and equipment re-tooling. European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius admitted that Europe is heavily dependent on American space capabilities and stated that the response must be the development of its own technologies and closer cooperation among European countries.
The Speed Incident and Musk's Statement
Against the backdrop of these discussions, Ukraine recently saw restrictions placed on the operation of the Starshield "military package" at speeds exceeding 160 km/h, which reportedly affected the Ukrainian Defense Forces' ability to counter the enemy. Elon Musk stated that Starshield's speed was limited because, according to him, the Ukrainian military violated the terms of use of the system — allegedly using satellite capabilities to strike targets on Russian territory. In such a case, Musk said, Starlink could have become a target for a Russian attack, which is why, as he put it, "that loophole was closed." These statements come from the company itself and are not independently verified facts.
Thus, the situation with Starlink has become another argument in favor of Europe's technological independence. However, in the coming years, European countries will likely continue to depend on American communication and missile warning systems while simultaneously developing their own alternatives that can close this gap no earlier than the end of the decade.
