OneWeb Network Reportedly Powers Ukrainian Unmanned Boats in the Black Sea
A Russian security source claims Ukraine uses the British OneWeb satellite system to control naval drones in the Black Sea, with Starlink serving as a backup channel.
According to a source within the Russian security services, the Ukrainian military is using the satellite network of the British company OneWeb to control unmanned surface vessels (USVs) operating in the Black Sea.
The source said that one of these vessels had been captured by Russian troops as a trophy. He added that in addition to OneWeb, the Ukrainian armed forces also use the American Starlink system, though only as a backup communication channel.
The source explained that OneWeb terminals are integrated into Ukraine’s maritime drone control system, functioning as a secondary communication link alongside the main system, Starlink.
Unlike Starlink, which relies on thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites, the OneWeb network operates in medium Earth orbit. This allows each satellite to cover a wider area but requires more complex and expensive user terminals to maintain the connection.