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Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

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Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#101

Post by redgridtactical »

The dual-use problem with Starlink is really just the most visible version of something happening across the military. Phones with civilian GPS chips are increasingly used alongside dedicated mil-spec hardware, simply because the commercial stuff is more usable and gets updated faster.

The real strategic question isn't whether Starlink can be weaponized - of course it can - it's what happens when military operations become dependent on commercial infrastructure that a single company controls. The vendor becomes a strategic chokepoint, and there's no precedent for how that plays out in a peer conflict.

Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#102

Post by alansaber »

syntaxing wrote: post #48

I noticed this the other day with the Anthropic upholding its redline. I think this is the first time in history where consumer tech exceeds military tech. Historically, it was always military tech trickles down to consumer.

Indeed for once data volume >>> other concerns

Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#103

Post by dghlsakjg »

torginus wrote: post #97
iamtheworstdev wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Starlink recently implemented new rules for satellites that travel more than 100mph. Service is deactivated unless they have a valid government ID and an aircraft's tail number attached to the account. While both can be faked, you could arguably correlated a provided tail number with ADS-B data because anyone with a Starlink is likely also broadcasting ADS-B. But it also provides a bit of 1:1 correlation on satellite…

I thought Starlink doesn't allow you to move your terminal at all with the basic plan, and there's a premium plan where you can move it, but still can't use it, unless you stop?

You aren’t supposed to move the terminal on a residential plan, but there are plans for RVs, boats and planes that allow you to change location and/or use while in motion.

I had the RV plan when they said it would not work in motion, but it worked pretty well on the highway anyway.

Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#104

Post by santiago-pl »

Si vis pacem, para bellum.

Just because I have a knife doesn't mean it affects the stability of my neighborhood. Even if I use my knife to kill a killer, that doesn't necessarily affect the stability of my neighborhood. It could even improve it.

All in all, I would rather live in a somewhat free America than in communist China.

Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#105

Post by Stevvo »

siliconc0w wrote: post #22

It's not great that they found starlink terminals on Russian drones (they've since tried to lock them down more). These should be export controlled and geo-locked as they are arguably much more powerful than any missile.

.gov allowed Russian military to become reliant on Starlink, then cut it off.

That was a deliberate tactic; Government is not leaving the fate of nations in the hands of Elon Musk alone.

Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#107

Post by lukan »

Stevvo wrote: post #105
siliconc0w wrote: post #22

It's not great that they found starlink terminals on Russian drones (they've since tried to lock them down more). These should be export controlled and geo-locked as they are arguably much more powerful than any missile.

.gov allowed Russian military to become reliant on Starlink, then cut it off. That was a deliberate tactic; Government is not leaving the fate of nations in the hands of Elon Musk alone.

Yes. Their brilliant 5D chess moves I can see at the gas station every day. Their long term plan is clearly to drive everyone away from the fossil industry and towards renewables.

Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#108

Post by cesarvarela »

throwaway5752 wrote: post #74
GorbachevyChase wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a completely unfounded conspiracy theory, but I think it’s a fun one. I think Elon Musk is running these companies the same way that he is a top ranked Diablo player. He just plays one on TV. The decision makers in the military industrial complex pushed black programs into a group of private company so they could scale and cut red tape while shedding contractors with really serious performance problems. So no…

Conspiracy theories aren't very productive. But the one thing that continues to bother me is how there is no great explanation for why TSLA is still worth much. It's a shrinking car company that is failing to execute at FSD and says it's going to make humanoid robots instead of cars. There is no good reason TSLA should be valued any more than 10% of its current valuation, and even that would be rich. There is a fine…

It is just a bet on Elon’s vision, nothing more, you put a little money there, many people do the same, price go up. Just that.

There are no other companies in the same position as Tesla, time will tell if it succeeds or not.

Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#109

Post by wmf »

redgridtactical wrote: post #101

The dual-use problem with Starlink is really just the most visible version of something happening across the military. Phones with civilian GPS chips are increasingly used alongside dedicated mil-spec hardware, simply because the commercial stuff is more usable and gets updated faster. The real strategic question isn't whether Starlink can be weaponized - of course it can - it's what happens when military operations…

Isn't virtually all military hardware and software single-sourced? Ultimately they trust the supplier and have good contracts. I imagine the US military is migrating to Starshield over time where they have a better SLA.

Re: Starlink militarization and its impact on global strategic stability (2023)

#110

Post by whattheheckheck »

siliconc0w wrote: post #22

It's not great that they found starlink terminals on Russian drones (they've since tried to lock them down more). These should be export controlled and geo-locked as they are arguably much more powerful than any missile.

Cappy army on YouTube had an interesting analysis on the starlink usage in russia.

https://youtu.be/Fpt8dYAwK7c?si=x5pp9vfKdwXM947c

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