{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1684082,
        "msgid": "us-military-relies-on-starlink-elon-musk-becomes-indispensable-1776423089",
        "date": "2026-04-17 16:40:00",
        "title": "US Military Relies on Starlink, Elon Musk Becomes Indispensable",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Technology",
        "summary": "The US military has become heavily dependent on SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet network for critical operations, including controlling autonomous drones and unmanned vessels, as demonstrated by recent disruptions that halted naval exercises off the California coast. This reliance underscores Elon Musk's pivotal role in US defence capabilities, with Starlink enabling low-Earth orbit satellite communications essential for surveillance, weapon control, and even Space Force projects like GPS launches. Despite official denials from the Department of Defense, experts highlight the absence of viable alternatives, raising concerns about potential vulnerabilities in national security.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The United States military has become\nheavily reliant on the Starlink internet network. In fact, Starlink\ninternet issues once caused dozens of US Navy robotic ships to drift\naimlessly at sea.<\/p>\n<p>Reuters reported that the Starlink problem led to a complete halt in\nUS Navy military operations for nearly an hour. As many as 24 unmanned\nvessels were drifting off the coast of California.<\/p>\n<p>The incident was just one of several US Navy military exercises\ndisrupted by Starlink network issues. Starlink is a satellite internet\nservice provided by SpaceX, a company owned by Elon Musk.<\/p>\n<p>According to Reuters, disruptions in military operations demonstrate\nStarlink\u2019s irreplaceable role in the US government and military. The\nStarlink network is needed for communications, monitoring, and even\ncontrolling autonomous weapons.<\/p>\n<p>However, Starlink\u2019s primary function is in the autonomous weapons\nprogramme in the form of drones, both at sea and in the air.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf there is no Starlink, the US government has no access to\nlow-Earth orbit satellite-based communications,\u201d said Clayton Swope from\nthe Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and\nInternational Studies.<\/p>\n<p>The autonomous ships that require the Starlink network are pilotless\ncombat vessels made by companies named BlackSea and Saronic.<\/p>\n<p>In April 2025, a military exercise involving flying drones and\nautonomous ships came to a complete halt due to connection problems with\nStarlink.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, also monopolises the space\nlaunch vehicle industry, generating billions of US dollars in revenue.\nLast month, the US Space Force shifted their GPS launch project from a\nBoeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture to Starlink.<\/p>\n<p>However, Chief Information Officer Kristen Davies denied the US\nmilitary\u2019s dependence on Starlink. \u201cThe [Department of Defense] uses a\nwide network with various reliable and robust systems,\u201d she said.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-military-relies-on-starlink-elon-musk-becomes-indispensable-1776423089",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}