2023.09.21

• Emerging Technologies

Satellite constellations taking on greater role in Japan’s security (Geoeconomic Briefing)

The Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February 2022, is sometimes described as an all-out war in the digital era, having a mix of old and new aspects of warfare. One of the latter is the Starlink satellite internet service used by the Ukrainian forces as telecommunication infrastructure. The service, a type of satellite constellation — a group of artificial satellites operated as a single system — has attracted great attention in the ongoing war. However, the use of satellite constellations is not limited to the Ukrainian government. The U.S. military has begun shifting its space system architecture to satellite constellations. Japan’s Defense Ministry and Self-Defense Forces have also been conducting demonstration experiments for the use of Starlink satellites since March.