The United Kingdom has begun using SpaceX's Starshield satellite network for military operations, according to people familiar with the matter, marking one of the first known deployments of the secure government-focused system outside the U.S.
Britain's Ministry of Defence has started transitioning operational military communications to Starshield, a more secure satellite system developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX for government and intelligence use, according to sources.
Starshield is designed for military operations and the transfer of sensitive data, offering enhanced security features compared with SpaceX's commercial Starlink service, which is widely used for civilian connectivity and non-operational military communications.
The UK government did not confirm the use of Starshield, but said personnel continue to use Starlink for non-operational purposes, including communications during deployments. It added that the armed forces use a range of suppliers. SpaceX also declined to comment.
The move places Britain among a small number of countries integrating Starshield into defence systems, reflecting a wider shift towards low-Earth orbit satellite networks for battlefield communications and connectivity.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has accelerated the global use of Starlink systems in military environments, particularly for communications and drone operations, while also raising concerns among some governments about reliance on private providers.
The UK began using Starlink terminals in 2022 and had around 1,000 units in operation as of last year, according to government data previously released through information requests.
It remains unclear how widely Starshield is being used within the UK military or how much the government is paying for the service. Sources suggest the system is being deployed through third-party distributors rather than via direct contracts with SpaceX.
SpaceX has sought to distinguish Starshield from Starlink, stressing that the military-focused system is intended for government and national security use, while the commercial network remains focused on civilian connectivity.
The development highlights the growing role of private technology companies in defence communications infrastructure as militaries seek faster, more resilient and globally connected satellite systems.
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