Russia develops anti-satellite weapon against Starlink: threat of space chaos.

According to ТСН: Two NATO intelligence agencies suspect Russia of developing a secret anti-satellite weapon capable of cluttering orbit with thousands of metal pellets. This technology is aimed at targeting satellites of the Starlink system, which is crucial for Ukraine's defense.

According to information obtained from intelligence, such a "zone-effect" weapon involves filling the Starlink orbit with hundreds of thousands of high-density metal pellets. This approach could disable several satellites at once but poses serious risks to other orbital systems.

Experts without access to this data doubt that such a weapon could be used without causing unpredictable chaos in space. This threatens both private entities and nations, especially Russia and China, which rely on thousands of satellites for communications and other critical functions.

Analysts believe these potential consequences, particularly the risks to their own space assets, may deter Moscow from using such technologies.

"I don’t believe it. I genuinely do not believe it. I would frankly be quite surprised if they did something like that," said Victoria Samson, a space security expert from Secure World Foundation.

The commander of the Canadian Armed Forces' Space Division, Brigadier General Christopher Gorner, emphasized that completely dismissing this Russian development would be unwise, given previous U.S. statements about the potential work of Russia on nuclear space weapons.

"I can’t say I was informed about such a system. But it doesn’t seem impossible. If the reports on the nuclear system are accurate, I wouldn’t be surprised if something less radical but equally destructive is within their capabilities," Gorner said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not comment on inquiries regarding the situation. However, Russia previously called on the UN to act to prevent the deployment of weapons in orbit, and President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow has no plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space.

Multi-target weapon

Intelligence materials were provided on condition of anonymity, and the agency could not verify the conclusions contained therein.

The U.S. Space Force did not respond to inquiries. However, the French armed forces' Space Command noted that they could not comment on the data but confirmed: "We can inform that in recent years, Russia has multiplied reckless, dangerous, and even hostile actions in space."

Russia views Starlink as a key threat, as thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit are crucial for Ukraine during the war.

Russian officials have stated that commercial satellites serving Ukrainian military could be considered "legitimate targets." This month, Russia also announced the deployment of a new S-500 missile system capable of striking targets in low orbits.

The new system, according to preliminary data, is intended to target several Starlink satellites simultaneously. It is expected that the pellets could be released from groups of small satellites that have not yet been launched.

Gorner noted that envisioning the controlled use of such pellets solely against Starlink is challenging since debris after an attack could quickly spiral out of control.

"You’re blowing up a box full of metal pellets. This will cover an entire orbital layer and disable every Starlink satellite and any other satellite in a similar orbit. And that is extremely concerning," explained the Canadian brigadier general.

System may only be experimental

It is not indicated when Russia might deploy such a system, whether it has undergone testing, and what stage its development is at.

A source familiar with the case noted that the system is being actively developed; however, no deployment timelines can be disclosed.

Samson suggests that similar Russian projects could be entirely experimental.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if some scientists are developing something similar as an interesting thought experiment," she said.

The expert also noted that demonstrating a new threat could help shape an international response.

"Often people pushing such ideas do so to force the U.S. to create something similar," she remarked.

Tiny pellets may go unnoticed

The size of the pellets may be just a few millimeters, making detection difficult. This significantly complicates the identification of those responsible for a potential attack.

Expert Clayton Swoup noted that if "pellets cannot be tracked, this makes the situation significantly more complex," but over time, "everything will become clear."

What scale of destruction such small debris may cause remains unknown. In November, a potential collision with a piece of space debris already led to damage to a Chinese spacecraft.

"Most likely, the solar panels would suffer the most damage as they are the most vulnerable part of the satellite," Swoup noted.

"Weapon of fear" and threat of chaos

Metal pellets and debris after an attack could gradually descend to Earth, creating additional risks for other satellites.

Starlink satellites operate at an altitude of about 550 km from Earth, while the Chinese space station "Tiangong" and the International Space Station are at lower orbits, thus both could be at risk.

The potential chaos in space created by such a system could allow Moscow to exert pressure on competitors even without the actual use of weapons.

"It really looks like a weapon of fear — a tool for deterrence," said the expert.

Samson emphasized that the drawbacks of "pellet" weapons might cause Russia to shy away from such a path.

"I’m not sure they are ready to sacrifice so much," she remarked.

The continuation of the article highlights the importance of technological developments in security and the potential risks associated with new forms of weapons. Issues of space security are becoming increasingly relevant in light of rising tensions between states, as the consequences of using such weapons could be catastrophic not only for individual countries but for the entire international community.