UK spent over €19 million on Musk's Starlink, some terminals transferred to Ukraine - media
Kyiv • UNN
The UK spent £16.6 million on Starlink for the AFU and the needs of its own sailors. This is significantly more than the expenditure on the rival OneWeb system.
The UK Ministry of Defence has spent £16.6 million (approximately €19.2 million) on Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system over the past four years. Part of these funds was used to purchase terminals for Ukraine, which are being used at the front. This is reported by The Telegraph, according to UNN.
According to released government data, the British MoD is funding the use of Starlink to support the Ukrainian military, as well as to provide communications for British soldiers and sailors in remote areas.
Starlink for Ukraine
The report notes that part of the expenditure related to the procurement of Starlink terminals, which were transferred to Ukraine following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
The systems are used for: providing communications at the front, controlling drones, and supporting military communications.
According to The Telegraph, Ukraine has already received over 50,000 Starlink terminals. Some were provided by SpaceX, while others were supplied by the US and Ukraine's allies, primarily Poland.
British military also uses Starlink
In addition to assisting Ukraine, the British military uses the Starlink system for communications while stationed in remote areas.
In particular, it was previously reported that sailors on the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales tested Starlink for internet access, watching television, and communicating with their families.
At the same time, the UK Ministry of Defence emphasized that Starlink technology is "not used for military operations" by the British Army.
"Starlink is primarily used to allow our service personnel to stay in touch with their loved ones in areas without conventional internet, such as on warships," a MoD spokesperson stated.
Political context
The Telegraph points out that London's cooperation with Starlink continues despite conflicts between the British authorities and Elon Musk.
Musk has repeatedly criticized the UK government and made provocative political statements. In 2024, he claimed that a "civil war is inevitable" in Britain and supported the actions of far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
This triggered a harsh reaction from British officials. In particular, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called on Musk to "get out of British politics."
Despite this, the British MoD's spending on Starlink significantly exceeds the funding for the company's main competitor, OneWeb, which is partially owned by British taxpayers.
According to the publication, since 2022, the UK MoD has spent only £2 million on OneWeb.