Russia creates Kalinka, a system to rival Elon Musk's satellite network in Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have used Starlink in their confrontation against Russia.
An advanced system has been developed by Russia to detect and disrupt signals from Starlink satellites, owned by Elon Musk, which have been crucial to Ukraine's military strategy. This new device, known as Kalinka, has been dubbed a "Starlink killer," and its implementation could significantly impact Ukraine's reliance on Starlink technology.
Since the onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian forces have been using Starlink for their communications and military operations. Starlink terminals have enabled Ukraine to direct aerial and naval drones against Russian targets, providing a crucial technological advantage on the battlefield. However, the arrival of the Kalinka system could change this dynamic.
Developed by the Russian Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies (CBST), Kalinka is specifically designed to locate, detect, and disrupt the Starlink signals used by Ukraine. Reports indicate that Kalinka is currently in combat testing and has already demonstrated its effectiveness. This system has the capability to identify and attack Starlink terminals located in conflict zones, as well as detect and disrupt signals from drones, vessels, and other systems reliant on Starlink within a range of up to 15 kilometers, for both fixed and mobile communication nodes.
Experts suggest that this capability will allow Russian forces to target naval and aerial unmanned drones, such as Ukraine's "Baba Yaga" drones, as well as vessels operated via Starlink. The Kalinka system is being integrated into several platforms, including jet skis, boats, and helicopters, providing flexibility on both land and sea.
Additionally, it has been reported that the CBST has already begun small-scale production of the Kalinka system, which is being actively tested in combat environments. The development of this system is part of a broader effort by Russia to neutralize Ukraine's technological advantages. Until the arrival of Kalinka, Russian forces primarily relied on visual tracking to monitor vessels and unmanned drones. With the advanced detection capabilities provided by Kalinka, Russian forces may gain an edge in the struggle against Ukraine's drone warfare.