US Military Relies on Starlink, Elon Musk Becomes Indispensable

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The United States military has become heavily reliant on the Starlink internet network. In fact, Starlink internet issues once caused dozens of US Navy robotic ships to drift aimlessly at sea.

Reuters reported that the Starlink problem led to a complete halt in US Navy military operations for nearly an hour. As many as 24 unmanned vessels were drifting off the coast of California.

The incident was just one of several US Navy military exercises disrupted by Starlink network issues. Starlink is a satellite internet service provided by SpaceX, a company owned by Elon Musk.

According to Reuters, disruptions in military operations demonstrate Starlink’s irreplaceable role in the US government and military. The Starlink network is needed for communications, monitoring, and even controlling autonomous weapons.

However, Starlink’s primary function is in the autonomous weapons programme in the form of drones, both at sea and in the air.

“If there is no Starlink, the US government has no access to low-Earth orbit satellite-based communications,” said Clayton Swope from the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The autonomous ships that require the Starlink network are pilotless combat vessels made by companies named BlackSea and Saronic.

In April 2025, a military exercise involving flying drones and autonomous ships came to a complete halt due to connection problems with Starlink.

SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, also monopolises the space launch vehicle industry, generating billions of US dollars in revenue. Last month, the US Space Force shifted their GPS launch project from a Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture to Starlink.

However, Chief Information Officer Kristen Davies denied the US military’s dependence on Starlink. “The [Department of Defense] uses a wide network with various reliable and robust systems,” she said.