Communications and electronic warfare expert Serhiy Beskrestnov, known online as “Flash,” commented on the Ukrainian UASAT project, which is positioned as an “alternative to Starlink” for the frontline. Despite the company’s claims, technically, the system is not yet a full-fledged replacement for Starlink, as it does not have its own constellation of satellites. According to him, there are currently no satellites in Ukraine capable of providing broadband Internet, and they are unlikely to appear in the near future. Therefore, satellite communications are obtained mainly through the lease of existing satellites or the use of part of their capabilities.
There are many satellite communication providers on the market. The Ukrainian Armed Forces already use the Tooway service based on the K-SAT satellite. These systems are equipped with large round antennas that need to be precisely pointed at the satellite, and each time the location changes, the adjustment is done manually. There are also more modern systems with flat or “egg-shaped” antennas that can automatically point to satellites and work while moving, but they are much more expensive. As for UASAT, the company has entered into an agreement with HughesNet, which allows it to sublease satellite communications. If there are enough customers, UASAT could lease entire transponders. The cost of services depends on the number of users: currently, the price is about UAH 2,500 for several dozen gigabits with speeds of up to 100 Mbps for download and 5 Mbps for upload, while unlimited Internet will cost UAH 20 thousand, which is significantly more expensive than Starlink.
UASAT has created its own Ukrainian system based on foreign components, developing its own solutions for pointing and powering the terminal at a cost of about $2500. The signal coverage is provided by nine beams and actually covers the whole of Ukraine, and the high location of the satellite with an azimuth of 240°-270° simplifies setup. Among the disadvantages, expert Sergiy Beskrestnov lists the high price, the need for manual adjustment and visible antennas, as well as longer signal delays due to the satellite’s remote location, which is not a critical problem. The advantages include an alternative to Starlink in case of instability of the SpaceX partnership, the possibility of local assembly of terminals, prompt Ukrainian technical support, and potential expansion of satellite capacity leases. UASAT representatives have not yet answered questions about the resilience of communications to electronic interference, but Flash notes that geostationary satellites can be easily jammed by systems like Tirada-2 if they are in range – the Russians have already used such methods against several satellites since the beginning of the war. However, Tooway systems are more resistant to such interference due to the multi-beam configuration of the K-SAT satellite and the phase antenna that effectively cuts off ground interference.
The UASAT project demonstrates that satellite communications are becoming a strategic resource for the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the modern battlefield. Local production of terminals, the possibility of renting facilities, and Ukrainian technical support provide an operational advantage, but at the same time, the system remains vulnerable to electronic attacks. Control over the satellite Internet and its protection from interference is becoming a key element in the war of the future, as the effectiveness of command and coordination of military operations depends on the stability of communication.
