Belarus unveils 'Kulis' but challenges remain against 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 an equivalent to SpaceX's Starlink. This information was conveyed by the head of communications for the Belarusian armed forces, Vadim Romanov, during a program broadcast on Belarusian television.

Although the program did not show any images of the new system, two weeks earlier, another Belarusian channel, CTVBY, presented details about the "Kulis." This system is actually composed of components available on AliExpress that anyone can 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 necessary software and is not an authorized station by SpaceX. Furthermore, the Belarusian "Kulis" features an outdated satellite dish reminiscent of those from the early 2000s.

Both Ukrainians and Russians are attempting to use commercial solutions as substitutes for C4I (Command, Control, Communication, Computing, and Intelligence) systems. Besides applications like Google Meet or Discord, wireless communication between soldiers on the frontline and command points located a few or several miles 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 methods, and the GPS signal needed to sync the terminal with the satellites can be circumvented. Simply digging a hole over three feet deep and placing the antenna inside it negates the effectiveness of land-based jammers.