The US Navy is testing out the Elon Musk–owned satellite constellation to provide high-speed internet access to sailors at sea. It’s part of a bigger project that’s about more than just getting online.
The US Defense Department has for decades relied on a network of aging satellites to furnish service members at sea with decidedly slow internet access, according to an updated release NAVWAR shared with WIRED. By contrast, commercial satellite constellations like Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb, which number in the thousands and offer coverage from a significantly lower orbit, provide a far superior connection.
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The US Navy is testing out the Elon Musk–owned satellite constellation to provide high-speed internet access to sailors at sea. It’s part of a bigger project that’s about more than just getting online.
The US Defense Department has for decades relied on a network of aging satellites to furnish service members at sea with decidedly slow internet access, according to an updated release NAVWAR shared with WIRED. By contrast, commercial satellite constellations like Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb, which number in the thousands and offer coverage from a significantly lower orbit, provide a far superior connection.
News of the Starlink terminal’s installation aboard the *Lincoln* in particular came as the aircraft carrier and its associated battle group [were redirected to](https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3882120/uss-lincoln-strike-group-arrives-in-us-central-command/) the US Central Command area of operations in the Middle East amid [increased tensions between Israel and Iran](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/08/05/pentagon-beefs-us-forces-middle-east-threat-of-iran-and-its-proxies-looms.html) following the former’s targeted killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran.
Read the full story: [https://www.wired.com/story/us-navy-starlink-sea2/](https://www.wired.com/story/us-navy-starlink-sea2/)