China's Drone Swarm: A New Threat to Starlink Satellites?

A new study from China proposes a novel method to disrupt Starlink satellite communications using a swarm of airborne jammers. Researchers from Zhejiang University and the Beijing Institute of Technology have simulated an airborne barrier designed to jam signals between satellites, an approach that could cover areas as large as Taiwan.

The strategy involves deploying approximately 1,000 jammers, potentially mounted on drones or balloons, at an altitude of 12 miles. This airborne grid aims to overwhelm Starlink's signals by creating interfering noise. The study highlights the difficulty of traditional ground-based jamming due to the constellation's constantly shifting low Earth orbit.

This research emerges in the context of Starlink's critical role in maintaining connectivity during conflicts, such as its use by Ukraine. The proposed jamming method, utilizing specific antenna types and jamming power, aims to create an effective disruption, with simulations suggesting a grid of jammers could suppress signals over significant areas.