Photo: Sestroretsk Arms Factory
A Russian arms supplier claims it developed technology for detecting Starlink dishes within a certain range, allowing military forces to target and attack the SpaceX hardware.
Russia’s Sestroretsk Arms Factory unveiled the “Borshchevik” (“Hogweed”) system, as developed to locate Starlink dishes from distances up to 10 kilometers (6.2) miles away, according to a report from PC Mag.
According to the company, the Borshchevik system can pick out a Starlink dish within 5 to 60 meters (16 to 196 feet) of the terminal’s precise location.
The system can also be outfitted onto moving vehicles, which military forces could use to detect the SpaceX satellite internet hardware across front lines and into the battlefields of opponents.
SpaceX Hired for European Launches to Bypass Russia https://t.co/uAxOezlgwH
— TeslaNorth.com (@RealTeslaNorth) October 21, 2022
The device was shared by the Russian Telegram group “Reverse Side of the Medal,” which has ties to the paramilitary Wagner Group. The posting user in the forum said they would be testing the device on the front lines of war with Ukraine.
It’s unclear what the technology behind the Borshchevik is or how effective it is, though an infographic from the manufacturer shows it being used in urban settings, forested areas and atop a tall tower being hoisted up from a tank.
The news comes after SpaceX deployed several pieces of Starlink hardware to Ukraine as it defends against the ongoing Russian invasions.
Starlink has remained a crucial component of connectivity for users in the country, both on the battlefield and for residents of the country.
