SpaceX's decision in February 2026 to ban the use of the Starlink satellite internet system by Russian forces was a significant blow to Moscow's military capabilities, after it relied on it for field communications, directing drones, and coordinating combat operations inside Ukraine. According to the US military and intelligence agencies, this ban contributed to weakening Russian capabilities and supported the success of the Ukrainian offensive during the spring of 2026.
The move also highlighted the growing strategic importance of the space Internet in modern warfare, and prompted Russia to accelerate its efforts to develop a domestic alternative capable of compensating for the loss of access to Starlink and maintaining the effectiveness of its military operations.
"Rasvet"... a Russian project to compete with Starlink
A joint investigation by the German NDR and WDR channels spoke about Russia's work to develop its own satellite Internet network called "Rasswet" to be an alternative to Starlink, which Ukraine relies on extensively in the war.
According to a report by the German Tages-Show website, the Russian company “Bureau 1440”, affiliated with the “X Holding” group, is developing the “Rasvet” project, which is a satellite Internet system that relies on a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed data transmission and communications services for both civil and military use.
The company began the project by launching experimental satellites within the “Rasvet-1” and “Rasvet-2” phases during the years 2023 and 2024, before moving on to deploying the “Rasvet-3” satellites during the year 2026, as part of a plan that aims to reach initial operational readiness and begin providing services during the year 2027.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirms that the new system will be able to provide capabilities similar to Starlink, and even stated that the developing company is “not inferior” to Starlink, according to the “Tages Show” report published this morning, Wednesday (September 16, 2026).
Why does the project concern the German army?
Although the project is still in development, the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, are looking at it seriously. According to a secret military analysis seen by NDR and WDR channels, the real danger does not lie in “Rasvet’s” current capabilities, but rather in what it might achieve if it is completed successfully.
According to the German assessment, the system may give the Russian army for the first time the independent ability to manage drones and unmanned systems in real time and on a global scale, without relying on Western infrastructure or technologies. It can also help improve targeting accuracy and follow military movements on the ground almost instantly, providing Russian forces with important operational advantages.
A huge gap between ambition and reality
Despite these concerns, the German armed forces express great doubts about the timetable announced by Moscow. It is estimated that the Rasvet-3 system will achieve only limited operational readiness by the end of 2027, even if 288 satellites are deployed as planned.
The numbers reveal a wide gap between the Russian project and its American competitor. The Starlink network currently includes more than 10,000 satellites, while Russia plans to reach about 730 satellites by 2030 and only 900 satellites by 2035, which makes it difficult for it to reach the same level of performance in the foreseeable future.
Technical and military obstacles
Moscow's plans face many challenges. According to the “Tagesschau” report, Russia has so far launched more than 30 satellites from the “Rasvet” project, but several reports spoke of some satellites faltering or being lost and some of them not reaching the required orbits. The project's success also depends on Russia's ability to produce and launch satellites at a high pace despite Western sanctions and the exhaustion of the ongoing war.
At the same time, Ukraine began targeting some of the infrastructure associated with the project, including facilities that produce missiles carrying the Rasvet satellites, in an attempt to slow its development and delay its full entry into service.
A strategic bet on an uncertain future
Today, Rasvet represents one of the largest Russian strategic projects in the field of space and military communications, as Moscow is betting on it to reduce its dependence on Western technologies and compensate for the loss of access to Starlink. However, between Russian ambitions and Western warnings, there are still major doubts about the project’s ability to adhere to the announced schedule or provide capabilities comparable to the Starlink network in the near future.
Edited by: Khaled Salama
