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Topic: Space Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Americas Tags: Elon Musk, North America, Satellites, SpaceX, Starlink, Starshield, United States, and US Space Force Elon Musk Is Blasting America’s Secret Military Internet into Orbit January 8, 2026 By: Brandon J. Weichert
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The Pentagon is currently planning to put around 480 Starshield satellites into orbit, forming a “mesh network” that could survive an enemy first strike with communications intact.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is the only reason that the United States has even remained competitive in the new global space race. Its innovative, cost-saving approach to space development has helped the US maintain its otherwise faltering lead in space against adversaries including Russia and China.
From Ukraine to Orbit: Starlink Goes to War
To be clear, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system was intended for civilian use only. Musk has recognized that one of the biggest long-term threats to his mission is taking a side during a war, potentially putting his company’s satellites in harm’s way.
However, the fact remains that satellite Internet is a vital military tool, and it will be used for military purposes whether Musk likes it or not. Musk recognizes this. After Starlink proved decisive for friendly forces in Ukraine, the company pivoted, and is expanding that model for military use. It has created Starshield, which is essentially Starlink for the US Armed Forces.
Now, the United States Space Force has partnered with SpaceX to develop a new military satellite communications system, known as “MILNET.” The project is being overseen by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). In 2021, SpaceX and the US Space Force signed an original contract for Starshield, which was later expanded in 2024.
MILNET: The Military Internet No One Is Talking About
SatNews, an industry publication, reports that Space Force is leveraging “the existing Starshield contract network […] to rapidly procure compliant satellite buses and launch services without initiating a new multi-year solicitation process.”
This is an innovative approach to overcoming a long-running problem within the Pentagon (specifically within the national security space policy world): a sclerotic and dysfunctional acquisitions process.
The Trump administration has initiated sweeping reforms to the acquisitions process at the Pentagon, probably the biggest reforms since the Goldwater-Nichols Act reforms of the 1980s. One of the areas that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his team has focused on has been in the space domain.
Given the usually supportive role that Musk has played with the Trump administration, this has been an especially beneficial set of reforms both the Pentagon’s space acquisitions process as well as with the development of new methods while skirting the cumbersome bureaucracy.
Per SatNews, MILNET is “designed to operate as a high-capacity ‘backbone’ layer alongside the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) currently built by the Space Development Agency (SDA).” Here’s why the new MILNET is so important: it provides what’s known as “heavy-lift data transport.”
In other words, the massive files of intelligence and sensor telemetry collected on a given region are so large that, without this new MILNET capability, sharing that immense data with US forces globally is nearly impossible.
The MILNET satellites will be situated in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and employ Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISL). These will be laser communications satellites—a technology that China is also developing.
Together, these satellites will form what’s known as a mesh network. They will be less reliant on ground stations for communication and coordination—a key element for ensuring no disruption of essential military communications during war, as ground stations are far more vulnerable than satellites during a war.
How a “Mesh Network” Will Help MILNET Survive a First Strike
Overall, there will be around 480 satellites in the MILNET system in orbit. The encryption of their communications will be handled by the National Security Agency (NSA) High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) for classified data transportation.
The world is on the brink of a great power war, and space will be a major zone of conflict. Indeed, it will be the first arena of combat, because US rivals—notably China—understand the importance that space systems play into all US military operations globally. The MILNET program is a major step toward space sustainability for all US forces. It is expected to be deployed by the middle of this year.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. Weichert hosts a companion book talk series on Rumble entitled “National Security Talk.” He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, and the Asia Times. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / xnk.
The post Elon Musk Is Blasting America’s Secret Military Internet into Orbit appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org