Global Courant
TOKYO — The Japanese military is testing Mr Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service with a view to adopting the technology in the next fiscal year, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, citing unnamed government sources.
The Department of Defense already has access to communications satellites in geostationary orbit, but using Starlink technology, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, would add a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, the Yomiuri said.
Countries around the world are trying to build resilience against the risk of communications disruption or satellite attacks in case of conflict.
Japan’s self-defense forces have been testing Starlink since March, with the system deployed at about 10 locations and in training, the paper said.
Defense Department spokesmen were not immediately available outside office hours for comment on the report.
Starlink technology is being deployed on the battlefield by Ukraine and Russia is trying to block its use in the region.
Musk said in October that SpaceX could not afford to fund Starlink’s use in Ukraine indefinitely. The US Department of Defense said in June it had signed a contract to provide Starlink services there. REUTERS
