Boeing Drone Tests Challenge SpaceX's Starlink Dominance

Boeing's drone subsidiary Insitu and Gogo Inc. have successfully tested an Integrator military drone using satellite communications, providing governments with another option to reduce their reliance on SpaceX's Starlink network.

The companies integrated a modified Galileo HDX antenna onto the Integrator, which connects through Eutelsat Communications' OneWeb low-Earth-orbit network and requires no aircraft modifications. The system extends command-and-control range and allows seamless backhaul of sensor data with minimal latency.

Insitu's Vice President of Growth John Kelly said that adding an ITAR-free, high-speed SATCOM option is essential for their global customers. The Integrator can remain airborne for up to 27.5 hours, carry a 50-pound payload, and supports both proliferated-LEO and geosynchronous satellite-control options.

Starlink still dominates the market with thousands of satellites, but Gogo's system uses Eutelsat's OneWeb constellation of over 600 satellites. The Pentagon has expressed concern about relying too heavily on Musk's company, with some officials worried about higher pricing and the potential for service disruptions.