Russia unveils Volna Kupol Garant anti-Starlink electronic warfare system
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Russia has unveiled the Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system designed to disrupt Starlink communications by directing narrow-beam radio signals at satellites. The system overloads satellite receivers, temporarily blocking user transmissions from ground terminals across a 20 km² area. The method differs from conventional jammers that target ground infrastructure, avoiding physical damage to spacecraft.
System Design and Method
Volna Kupol Garant uses a phased-array antenna to emit concentrated radio signals across eight Starlink data transmission bands, each 62.5 MHz wide. The transmission overloads receiving antennas aboard Starlink satellites, which orbit at roughly 500 km altitude, temporarily preventing them from detecting ground terminal signals. Unlike conventional electronic warfare systems that disrupt ground stations, this approach targets satellites directly without causing physical damage. Dmitry Kuzyakin, general designer at the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions, stated that the disruption persists for several minutes after the system ceases transmission as satellites require time to recover normal communications.
Deployment and Coverage
The system comprises six trailer-mounted modules, each carrying two steerable satellite antennas under radio-transparent radomes. The modular design allows antennas to be operated from trailers or deployed as separate ground installations, providing tactical flexibility. According to reports, one complete complex can create a Starlink jamming zone of up to 20 km² through narrow-beam interference. The system addresses operational challenges posed by Starlink’s low-Earth orbit constellation, which has been widely used for military and civilian communications in conflict zones.
What's Next
The Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions has not disclosed when Volna Kupol Garant will be deployed operationally. Analysts warn that its effectiveness against Starlink’s rapidly evolving network architecture remains unverified.
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Russia unveils Volna Kupol Garant anti-Starlink electronic warfare system
