Boeing Tests Satellite-Linked Military Drone to Counter Starlink
Boeing's Insitu and aviation Wi-Fi provider Gogo have successfully tested a military drone using satellite communications, challenging Elon Musk's Starlink.
The test involved integrating a modified version of Gogo's Galileo HDX antenna onto Insitu's Integrator drone, which is used by military customers for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Drone warfare has become increasingly central to military strategy following its use in Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts across the Middle East. As militaries seek to operate drones at longer ranges and withstand jamming attacks, they are turning to satellite networks like Starlink.
The Gogo and Insitu system would provide high-speed global internet through Eutelsat OneWeb's low-Earth-orbit satellite network, making it ITAR-free and easing exports to international customers. According to John Kelly, Insitu's vice president of growth, 'Adding an ITAR-free, high-speed SATCOM option is an essential capability for our global customers.'