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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket displayed outdoors against a clear blue sky in Dubai.(For reference only)
UK expands military use of SpaceX satellite services with nearly $40 million spent
LONDON — September 10, 2026
Britain has spent nearly $40 million on SpaceX satellite services, expanding its use of the company's Starlink and Starshield networks for military communications as European governments consider how much they should rely on US-based security infrastructure.
The British Defence Ministry said it has about 1,000 Starshield terminals and 500 Starlink terminals. It has spent about £13 million ($17.6 million) on Starshield, including equipment and service time, and £16.5 million on Starlink.
The disclosure makes Britain the first country outside the United States to publicly confirm that it has adopted Starshield, a SpaceX service aimed at government and national security users. Starlink is primarily marketed for civilian and commercial customers.
Britain's growing use of the systems comes as European governments seek to strengthen their own defence capabilities amid questions about the United States' long-term security commitment to Europe. The issue has increased attention on the risks of depending on foreign technology for critical military communications.
Britain began using Starlink in mid-2022. The Defence Ministry later moved more operational military communications traffic toward Starshield, while the ministry said the shift followed a decision by SpaceX to limit Starlink's military use to morale, welfare, recreation and training.
The ministry said Starshield provides stronger encryption, military-specific service terms, higher network priority, more flexible licensing and wider coverage. Both systems use the same satellite constellation, ground stations and terrestrial infrastructure, but Starshield operates through dedicated terminals and separate ground-based network gateways.
Britain began using Starshield service through existing Starlink terminals in 2024 and bought its first dedicated Starshield terminals in 2025, according to the ministry's response to a freedom of information request.
The United Kingdom also operates its own Skynet military satellite communications system and is a shareholder in French satellite operator Eutelsat. Eutelsat operates the only other major operational low-Earth-orbit broadband satellite constellation besides Starlink.
Military use of Starlink has expanded since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukrainian forces have used the network for battlefield communications and drone operations, helping demonstrate the value of commercial satellite systems during modern warfare.
SpaceX has increasingly separated Starlink from Starshield in its military business. Elon Musk has said Starlink is designed for civilian use, while Starshield is intended for government and national security customers.
The financial difference between the two services is significant. Britain's Defence Ministry said Starshield plans available in the country cost £5,500 a month for five terabytes of data or £25,000 a month for an unlimited plan.
By comparison, a UK Starlink business customer can pay £1,830 a month for two terabytes of global data, with less expensive plans also available for lower data limits or more limited geographic coverage. Starshield terminals cost between £4,000 and £7,000 each, according to a person familiar with the matter, compared with lower advertised prices for business-grade Starlink terminals.
The distinction has also become important in the United States. SpaceX raised the price charged to the Pentagon for Starlink services used to support drone operations during military action against Iran earlier this year. Musk said the service should have been provided through Starshield instead.
Other US partners are also examining the system. New Zealand is testing Starshield to assess whether it could support military operations.
Starshield is built on Starlink technology, although SpaceX also develops dedicated satellite constellations for some US government customers. SpaceX has said the US government has awarded more than $6 billion in multi-year Starshield contracts, mainly through two major US Space Force programmes involving low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations.
SpaceX began operating Starlink in 2020 and has since built the world's largest low-Earth-orbit satellite network. The business has become a major source of revenue for the company and has played an important role in its expansion.
For Britain, the growing use of Starshield offers access to a large and established satellite network while also increasing the country's dependence on infrastructure operated by a US company. That balance is likely to remain an important issue as European governments seek greater control over their defence and communications capabilities.
