The authors of the Telegram channel "Voennaya khronika" outlined the key requirements for a domestic satellite communications system that could become an analogue of Starlink for military tasks. In their assessment, Russia needs its own jam-resistant satellite infrastructure designed for operation in field conditions.
The smaller, the better
The system must provide stable communications without additional equipment, the analysts emphasized. In terms of overall build quality, it must at least not be inferior to Starlink.
Special attention should be paid to terminal mobility. In the opinion of the channel’s authors, the device must be compact and lightweight so that soldiers can quickly deploy communications in any conditions.
Miniaturization of electronics is a difficult task, but without it mobility cannot be achieved. And where there is no mobility, there is death.
No complicated setup whatsoever
They proposed fully automating equipment setup. The terminal must independently find the satellite and establish a connection after the power is turned on.
Manual adjustment, according to the analysts, is unacceptable in combat conditions. An important element is said to be an electronically steered antenna, which will make it possible to operate without precise orientation toward the satellite.
The antenna should have electronic beam steering: place it on the ground, press a button, and the system finds the satellite and configures itself.
Powered by practically anything
Power supply must be supported from army batteries, vehicle onboard power systems, and external sources via Type-C, they added in "Voennaya khronika".
It is necessary to ensure terminal enclosure protection to the IP68 standard and limit the weight to 1.5–2 kg. Exceeding this figure reduces the system’s mobility and limits its use, the analysts stated.
The size of the satellite constellation is a separate issue. It may not make sense to aim for a constellation the size of Starlink’s 9,000–10,000 spacecraft, but even if 50% of that volume is achieved, that is already a success.
The launch of the first 16 low-orbit satellites with satellite communications from the company "Byuro 1440" was planned for 2025, but was postponed to 2026. The reason for the missed deadline was the lack of the required number of completed spacecraft.
At the end of December 2025, the first photograph of the latest Russian kamikaze drone "Geran-3" appeared online, equipped with a Starlink satellite communications module. However, in February 2026 it became known that speed restrictions now apply to the terminals, and if those are exceeded they simply stop working.