Russia has taken another step in its electronic warfare campaign against Ukraine by unveiling a system designed to neutralize SpaceX's Starlink constellation . The device, called Volna Kupol Garant, doesn't target ground terminals but instead targets satellites in orbit, saturating their receivers with a narrow, high-power radio frequency beam. This technology could temporarily disable Starlink service for users in a given area, severely impacting Ukrainian military communications.
The system, developed by the Crimean-based Russian company Russkiy Kupol, has been presented as an alternative to conventional jammers. According to Dmitry Kuzyakin, chief designer at the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions, the goal is to "blind" Starlink satellites without destroying them, allowing for the disruption of communications without generating space debris. This capability could shift the balance of power on the front lines, where Starlink has become an essential tool for Ukrainian forces.
What exactly is Volna Kupol Garant?
The system consists of six towed modules, each with two adjustable antennas protected by radomes. In total, it has twelve antennas that can operate independently or together. According to the released data, each unit weighs approximately 120 kilograms and can be operated by a single person, although it also supports remote control. Its range covers several square kilometers, allowing it to jam a considerable area.
The unique aspect of this system lies in its method of attack. Instead of interfering with signals between ground terminals and satellites, as traditional jammers do, Volna Kupol Garant concentrates all its energy into a narrow beam directed at the satellite itself. This saturates the satellite's receivers, preventing it from picking up signals transmitted from Earth. According to Kuzyakin, the effect is temporary, and the satellite regains functionality minutes after the interference ceases.
How orbital interference works
Starlink satellites orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers and use the 14 to 14,5 GHz band to receive signals from users. This band is divided into eight 62,5 MHz channels. The Russian system employs eight directional antennas, one for each channel, all pointing simultaneously at the same satellite. Each antenna emits interference on its corresponding channel, saturating all the satellite's receivers at once.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a radiocommunications expert and advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, explained that the Russians had deployed eight satellite dishes pointed at the satellite, each emitting interference on its own channel. This technique renders the satellite "deaf" for the duration of the interference. Furthermore, the effect persists for several minutes longer, as the satellite needs time to re-establish normal communication after the interference.
Limitations and vulnerabilities
Despite its sophistication, Volna Kupol Garant has significant limitations. The most obvious is that it can only jam one satellite at a time, while the Starlink constellation has over 10.000 active satellites, with dozens hovering over each point of the front and taking turns every few minutes. This drastically reduces its operational effectiveness, as the system would have to constantly reorient itself to track a specific satellite.
Another problem is its cost. According to Beskrestnov, each unit can cost up to $1,5 million, a high price for a system that only temporarily affects a satellite. Furthermore, the system is easy to detect. Its numerous active antennas and considerable size make it visible to electronic reconnaissance satellites of Ukraine's allies. In fact, on June 15, the 422nd Unmanned Systems Regiment and the Special Operations Center "A" of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) located and destroyed one of these systems with drones in the south of the country, hitting several of its six deployed vehicles.
Despite these shortcomings, Russia appears determined to increase its deployment. According to TSN, the escalation in the use of this equipment coincides with Ukrainian medium-range attacks against Russian logistics hubs, suggesting that Moscow is employing it as a response to the lack of effective alternatives against drones that rely on Starlink to operate. This tactic reflects the growing importance of electronic warfare in the conflict, where disrupting a signal can isolate military units without the need for physical destruction.
In short, the Volna Kupol Garant system represents a new challenge for Starlink and for Ukraine's ability to maintain communications on the battlefield. Although its limitations are evident, its mere existence demonstrates that Russia is willing to invest in technologies to counter its adversary's technological advantage. The spectrum war continues, and this development adds a new chapter to the struggle for control of satellite communications.