Russia equips new attack drones with Starlink-type terminals

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

Russia has equipped a BM-35 one-way attack drone with a Starlink-type satellite terminal, Ukrainian specialists said after the aircraft was shot down and examined this week.

According to Serhii Beskrestnov, known by the call sign “Flash,” the recovered drone showed clear evidence of remote control through the Starlink system.

“For the first time, the fact of controlling the BM-35 UAV through Starlink has been recorded,” he said. Beskrestnov noted that Starlink hardware had previously been seen only on the Molniya drone series.

Beskrestnov stated: “When Shaheds fly on Starlink, it is only a matter of time and, perhaps, even days, not months. This is a big problem for us. UAVs with this type of control are not affected by electronic warfare and hit the target precisely under the control of an operator from Russia.”

Ukrainian forces reported that the BM-35 was intercepted and brought down before reaching its intended target. Photographs and technical assessments shared by specialists indicate the presence of a SpaceX satellite communications terminal adapted for integration into the drone’s airframe. The device appeared to be mounted in a way that allowed uninterrupted connectivity throughout the aircraft’s flight path.

The BM-35 is one of Russia’s newer one-way attack drones used for long-range strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure. These platforms are typically controlled through radio links or pre-programmed navigation routes. The introduction of satellite-based control would allow operators to guide drones from greater distances and maintain stable links despite Ukrainian electronic warfare activity.

Ukrainian analysts also report that Russia is preparing to field its Geran-4 strike drone equipped with air-to-air missiles. These aircraft, described as unmanned interceptors, are expected to use Starlink terminals for flight control and target acquisition. The system would allow remote operators to direct the drone in real time while maintaining communication in contested airspace.

Russia has established a large-scale procurement channel for terminals similar to Starlink through shell companies in the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Malaysia. These terminals are reportedly distributed both to forward ground units for battlefield coordination and to strike drone manufacturers for integration into aerial platforms.

Kyiv has repeatedly warned that Russia is adapting commercially available Western systems to enhance its attack capabilities.

The discovery follows months of reports from frontline units describing improved control links on several types of Russian drones. The integration of satellite-based communications into one-way attack drones would mark a shift in how Russian operators conduct long-range strike missions, reducing the effectiveness of jamming systems designed to break command-and-control channels.

The BM-35 incident underscores the pace at which Russian forces are updating their unmanned strike systems. Ukrainian specialists say the presence of a satellite terminal on a one-way attack drone is an escalation in Moscow’s attempts to bypass electronic defenses and preserve operator control up to the final phase of flight.