The billionaire entrepreneur, Elon Musk, gave a terrible prophecy, predicting war. "War is inevitable. In 5 years, 10 at the latest," he stated in a post on "X." Although he did not specify which war he was referring to, Musk published his comment in response to a post on "X" that claimed nuclear weapons deter wars "or even the credible threat of war" between major powers.
Furthermore, Musk agreed with another user's post on "X" which stated that the New York City elected official, Zohran Mamdani, and the United States Democratic representative from Minnesota, Ilhan Omar, should not be in the US government and that they will be the country's "downfall."
Revelation: China studies ways to "disable" Elon Musk's Starlink in a potential war with the US
Chinese researchers are examining ways to conduct electronic warfare against SpaceX's Starlink satellite network. The team carried out a simulation using high-altitude jammers in an area of Eastern China, concluding that it would take approximately 1,000 drones to block the network in an area the size of Taiwan.
Why it matters
Starlink is the world's largest satellite internet network, with over 8,000 satellites in low orbit. It first demonstrated its military value in Ukraine, keeping Kyiv's forces connected during the crucial early days of Russia's invasion. Chinese officials have stated that they consider Starlink a threat to national security and are investing significantly in advanced electronic and cyber warfare, alongside conventional forces, as China increases military pressure on Taiwan, which it considers its own territory and maintains that unification is inevitable, even through the use of force.
The study
The team from the Beijing Institute of Technology and Zhejiang University published its findings in the journal Systems Engineering and Electronics on November 5. Unlike traditional satellite networks with a few fixed satellites in geostationary orbit, Starlink's low orbit is dynamic, with continuous changes in coverage for every point on Earth. "Starlink's orbital planes are not fixed, and the satellites' orbits are complex, with the number of satellites appearing in a visible area constantly changing," said Yang Zhuo from the BIT to the South China Morning Post. The phased-array antennas and the ability of the US to change frequencies make disrupting the network even more difficult. In the simulation, the team created a "cloud" of high-altitude jammers—drones or balloons—placed 5-9 kilometers apart, each emitting interference. This grid would function as an electromagnetic shield, with each jammer covering up to 38.5 square kilometers. To block coverage across all of Taiwan (36,000 sq. km), according to the model, it would require at least 935 powerful jammers or up to 2,000 less powerful ones. The team conducted a 12-hour small-scale simulation in Eastern China.
Military prospects and future steps
Researchers such as Yan Jiajie and Yu Nanping from East China Normal University emphasize that Starlink, although presented as a commercial satellite network, has broad military potential, enhancing the US operational capabilities in case of military use. The effectiveness of the jamming methods under real-world conditions remains unknown, as does the potential provision of Starlink services to Taiwan in a conflict scenario. The US remains Taiwan's key arms supplier but adheres to a policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding direct intervention in the event of a Chinese invasion.
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