Belarus' 'Kulis' vs. Starlink: A tech race or imitation?
Belarus has announced the creation of its own Starlink satellite terminal known as "Kulis." We explore whether these terminals from China can work with Elon Musk's Starlink.
As reported by the Defence-UA portal, Belarusian military officials have announced the deployment of the "Kulis" satellite system, which is intended to be equivalent to SpaceX's Starlink. This information was relayed by the head of communications for the Belarusian armed forces, Vadim Romanov, during a programme broadcast on Belarusian television.
Although the programme did not display any images of the new system, two weeks earlier, another Belarusian channel, CTVBY, presented details of the "Kulis." This system is actually made up of components available on AliExpress for anyone to purchase. The only military element is the Belarusian encryption module "Prityok-Sz."
This DIY terminal, despite having capabilities similar to the original, is ineffective because it lacks the software and is not an authorised station by SpaceX. Moreover, the Belarusian "Kulis" features an old satellite dish reminiscent of those from the early 2000s.
Starlink in Ukraine — a common substitute for C4I systems
Both Ukrainians and Russians are trying to use commercial solutions as a substitute for C4I (Command, Control, Communication, Computing and Intelligence) systems. In addition to applications like Google Meet or Discord, wireless communication between soldiers on the frontline and command points located a few or several kilometres inland is essential.
Currently, the only commercial system enabling this is the network of nearly 7,000 Starlink satellites by Elon Musk. Its destruction is practically impossible through conventional means, and the GPS signal needed to synchronise the terminal with the satellites can be obstructed. Simply digging a hole over one metre deep and placing the antenna inside it negates the effectiveness of land-based jammers.
