SpaceX will launch in September sent a letterThe Pentagon was asked to pay for expenses related to Ukraine’s Starlink satellite internet. According to CNNSpaceX informed the department that it would cost them over $120 million to continue providing Starlink access to the Ukranian government for the remainder of 2022, and nearly $400 million in the next twelve months. The company stated that it was unable to donate more terminals to Ukraine or to fund existing terminals for an indefinite time. Elon Musk, the company’s chief executive seems to have retracted his decision to request assistance from the Pentagon. TweetedSpaceX will “keep financing.” [the] Ukraine [government]Starlink is still losing money but Starlink offers it “free”
Musk reiterated what he had said in his tweet The Financial TimesSpaceX said that they will continue to finance Ukraine’s access Starlink satellite internet “indefinitely.”
Musk responded to the news and clarified that SpaceX was not asking for the Pentagon’s assistance in paying for expenses from the past. He Detailed explanationSpaceX can’t afford to finance the existing system in Ukraine. They also regularly send thousands more terminals to replace those destroyed by Russian forces. Musk AdditionalStarlink’s operating costs in the country are $20 million per month. Starlink also needs to “defend cyberattacks against jamming” as part of its ongoing maintenance.
This month, The TimesAccording to reports, Ukrainian troops were killed in action Starlink outages – What can you do?This led to a “catastrophic” lack of communication at the frontline. Musk RespondedStarlink terminals were falsely claimed by the piece [and]Service were not paid for, but only a small fraction have been.” SpaceX’s letter reveals that CNNHowever, 85 percent of the 20,000 Ukrainian terminals at that time were partially or fully funded by the US, UK, Poland, and other sources.
After learning of the letter’s existence, the Pentagon confirmed it had been in discussions with SpaceX about payments. However, it also indicated that it has been considering other options. Sabrina Singh (the Pentagon’s deputy Press Secretary), In a statement“There is more than SpaceX. There are other entities that can be partnered with us when it comes down to providing Ukraine with the necessary equipment on the battlefield.”
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