The devices will form a continuous zone of radio suppression—a kind of "electromagnetic shield."
China has calculated a scenario for neutralizing the Starlink network using a swarm of drones over an area equivalent to the size of Taiwan.
Specialists from Zhejiang University and Beijing Institute of Technology conducted computer modeling to assess the capabilities of suppressing the Starlink satellite system.
According to calculations, a grouping of 1,000–2,000 unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with jamming equipment will be required for complete blockage of Starlink over Taiwan.
The optimal configuration, according to the model, suggests the use of 935 drones. These devices should be arranged in a synchronized network at an altitude of 19 km above the ground, with the distance between neighboring nodes ranging from 4.8 to 9.6 km.
With this arrangement, the devices will form a continuous zone of radio suppression—a kind of "electromagnetic shield."
Its power will be sufficient to jam the signal even with the deployed orbital grouping of Starlink, which consists of more than 10,000 satellites. However, if less advanced jamming generators are used, the number of drones will need to be increased to 2,000, and their placement will have to be denser.
The simulation is based on current data about the Starlink system. The modeling covered an area comparable in size to Taiwan and lasted for 12 hours.
It should be noted that drones are not the only possible carriers of the suppression system. Alternative options could include high-altitude balloons or aircraft. This provides important advantages to the solution: relatively low cost and rapid deployment.
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