Technology1 min read

Ukraine, Russia race to build military satellite networks as war rages on

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Ukrainian radio manufacturer Himera and Denmark's GomSpace have deployed the Obria Nano satellite as an initial move toward achieving space self-reliance. Kyiv is also working with Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE to develop orbital capabilities for high-resolution, all-weather reconnaissance imagery. These initiatives follow operational crises where enforced connection limits crippled interceptors and drones traveling over 60 kilometers per hour. Despite these collaborative development efforts, analysts emphasize that Ukraine remains reliant on current commercial satellite tools for its near-term front-line survival.

Key points

  • Repeated operational disruptions have driven Ukraine to pursue sovereign alternatives to…: Repeated operational disruptions have driven Ukraine to pursue sovereign alternatives to Elon Musk's Starlink network.
  • Historical constraints, including a 2022 refusal to enable coverage in occupied territori…: Historical constraints, including a 2022 refusal to enable coverage in occupied territories, underscored Kyiv's vulnerability to external corporate decisions.
  • Establishing an independent military constellation will require years, keeping Ukraine de…: Establishing an independent military constellation will require years, keeping Ukraine dependent on Starlink for immediate survival.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Ukraine seeks to break its reliance on Starlink while Russia develops its own satellite constellation for military communications.

Kyiv, Ukraine – Looking like a tiny desktop tower with wing-like solar panels, the Obria Nano satellite is a small step that could herald a giant leap for Ukraine’s military.

Launched by Himera, a Ukrainian company known for ergonomic military radios, and GomSpace, a Danish small-satellite manufacturer, the first Obria Nano could eventually grow into Kyiv’s own constellation of military satellites, its creators hope.

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The nanosatellite marks Ukraine’s “first historical step toward establishing resilient and sovereign satellite communications capabilities,” the company said on October 27, almost four weeks after the Obria Nano had reached orbit.

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