# U.S. Navy tested unmanned surface vessels using SpaceX's Starlink satellite network.

*aerospace · news · 2026-04-16 · NDTV.com*

## Key points

- Previously unreported Navy drone tests were disrupted by Starlink outages off the California coast last August.
- Starlink's high data usage requirements hindered reliable connections for multiple unmanned Navy vessels during tests.
- Despite reliability issues, Starlink remains the primary low-earth orbit provider for key U.S. military programs.
- Democratic lawmakers have explicitly warned about national security risks from Pentagon's reliance on SpaceX.

**Companies:** SpaceX, BlackSea, Saronic
**Countries:** United States, Taiwan

[Read the full story on NDTV.com](https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/starlink-outage-hitting-us-drone-tests-exposes-pentagon-dependence-on-spacex-11368661)

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