Russia has equipped a one-way attack drone BM-35 with a Starlink satellite terminal, Ukrainian specialists revealed after the aircraft was shot down and examined this week.
The BM-35 was intercepted before reaching its target, Ukrainian forces said. Photographs and technical assessments shared by experts indicate the presence of a SpaceX satellite communications terminal adapted for integration into the drone’s fuselage.
According to the website Defence Blog, the information was disclosed by Ukrainian radio technology specialist Serhiy Flash, who shared that the recovered drone showed clear evidence of remote control via the Starlink system.
“For the first time, the fact of controlling the BM-35 UAV via Starlink has been recorded,” he said. Until then, Starlink hardware had only been seen on the Molniya series of drones.
In the case of the BM-35, the Starlink device appeared to have been installed in a way that allowed uninterrupted connectivity throughout the aircraft’s entire flight path. This modification raised concerns among Ukrainian specialists.
“When Shaheds fly on Starlink, it is only a matter of time—perhaps even days, not months. This is a major problem for us. UAVs with this type of control are not affected by electronic warfare and strike their targets precisely under the control of an operator from Russia.”
Kyiv has repeatedly warned that Russia is adapting commercially available Western systems to enhance its attack capabilities. This new modification, however, marks a shift in how Russian operators conduct long-range strike missions, reducing the effectiveness of jamming systems designed to disrupt command and control channels.
Photos: Serhiy Flash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
