Russia Suspected of Developing Anti-Satellite Weapon Aimed at Starlink

Russia is suspected of building a new anti-satellite weapon. The weapon is said to target Starlink in orbit. The findings were seen by The Associated Press. They came from two NATO-nation intelligence services. The reports say the weapon could spread metal pellets through space.

The suspected weapon would send dense shrapnel into Starlink paths. It could hit many satellites at once. It could also harm other systems in orbit. Analysts warn it could cause wide and dangerous debris. They say Russia may avoid using it for that reason.

New Concerns Rise Over Russia’s Starlink Threat

According to Reuters and AP, the system is called a “zone‑effect” weapon. It would create a cloud of pellets in low orbit. The pellets are small and hard to track. This could make any attack difficult to trace. It could also add huge risk for all nations in space.

Experts say the debris could damage Russia’s own satellites. They say China could also face danger. Many satellites share similar orbits. Starlink flies at about 550 kilometres above Earth. Any wide cloud of pellets could hit many systems.

Canadian military officials said the threat cannot be ruled out. They note earlier warnings that Russia may pursue more extreme space weapons. France’s Space Command also said Russia has shown hostile actions in space in recent years. Russia has denied plans for space weapons. The Kremlin did not respond to AP questions.

Space Security Experts Warn of Global Impact

Analysts say the pellet clouds would be hard to control. They say debris could spread fast. It could hit Starlink and other satellites in the same orbital lane. This could trigger more debris over time. It could even threaten space stations below.

The pellets could also disable solar panels. These panels are fragile. Experts say even tiny debris can shut down a satellite. A small piece damaged a Chinese spacecraft last year. That event showed how even small hits can cause big problems.

Some analysts believe the weapon may only be experimental. They say scientists may test ideas without plans to deploy them. They also note some warnings may push other nations to build counterspace tools. The intelligence reports did not say if Russia has tested the system.

Possible Global Risks if Such a Weapon Is Used

Experts warn the fallout could be huge. A single pellet cloud could interrupt communications. It could hit defence systems. It could harm weather and navigation tools. It could disrupt daily life around the world.

Many analysts still doubt Russia will use such a weapon. But the concerns show how fragile space has become. Starlink remains central in this debate.

Thought you’d like to know-

Q1: What is the suspected Russian weapon?

It is a pellet-based anti-satellite weapon. It could spread small metal pellets in orbit. The pellets could damage many satellites at once.

Q2: Why is Starlink a target?

Starlink supports Ukraine with communications. It helps Ukraine on the battlefield. Russia sees it as a major threat.

Q3: Can the pellets be detected?

Experts say they are very small. Current tracking systems may not see them. That makes tracing attacks harder.

Q4: Could this weapon harm Russia too?

Yes. Debris could hit Russian satellites. It could also strike China and other nations. The danger would spread widely.

Q5: Is the system ready for use?

There is no proof of deployment. Reports say it is still in development. Some experts think it may be only experimental.