Musk Alleges Military Misused Starlink Drones
May 26, 2026 at 21:23
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✦ AI Summary
- SpaceX disputes Pentagon's price hike claims
- Musk blames contractor for Starlink service violation
- Military agreed to increased fees for drone access
SpaceX and the Pentagon have clashed over the pricing of the Starshield satellite service during recent operations in Iran. According to reports, SpaceX sought significantly higher fees after military drones known as "kamikaze" began utilizing Starlink terminals.
Although SpaceX CEO Elon Musk refuted aspects of this account, he confirmed that the drones initially operated using the commercial Starlink service instead of the designated government network, which breached Starlink's terms. Musk attributed the violation to the drone contractor.
The Pentagon, reportedly unhappy with a proposed price increase from $5,000 to $25,000 per drone for Starshield access, ultimately consented to the new terms amid ongoing negotiations.
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