TOKYO, Japan – Japan’s military is testing Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service with an eye to adopting the technology next fiscal year, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, June 25, citing unnamed government sources.
The Ministry of Defense already has access to communication satellites in geostationary orbit, but use of 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 seeking to build resilience against the risk of jamming of communications or attacks on satellites in the event of conflict.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have been testing Starlink since March with the system deployed in about 10 locations and in training, the newspaper said.
Defense ministry spokespeople could not immediately be reached for comment on the report outside business hours.
Starlink technology is being deployed by Ukraine on the battlefield, and Russia is attempting to block its use in the region. Musk said in October SpaceX could not afford to indefinitely fund Starlink’s use in Ukraine.
The US Defense Department said this month it had contracted to provide Starlink services there. – Rappler.com
That’s not reassuring in the least. Even if it’s a backup or secondary system, if Starlink and the USA can cut service at will, it’s disadvantageous for Japan’s military to use it. This isn’t just reliance on foreign technology in the form of chips or other hardware, this is reliance on a foreign for-profit company owned by a megalomaniac billionaire who has made threats to cut service before when it suited him. This system subordinates Japanese (military) autonomy to external entities that not only aren’t obligated to act in Japan’s best interest, but have no way of being held responsible when they act against Japan’s interests.
Hopefully Japan’s military know what they are doing… And use that as a backup…
I’m just going to repeat myself: it is literally not any better if it’s a backup versus the primary system. Read my comment.
Edit to add: When do you use a backup? When things have gone very wrong. That is precisely when reliance on this system is the most dangerous.