# DoD Expands Starshield Satellite Services

The Pentagon has spent billions of dollars in aggregate on Starlink and Starshield services and has purchased dedicated satellites for government missions. Starshield builds on the Starlink constellation with secure communications, dedicated terminals and gateways, and potential Earth-observation and sensor integration. For procurement teams, the distinction between commercial Starlink and the government-focused service matters: service control, mission restrictions, and terminal costs differ. The UK and New Zealand are also using or evaluating Starshield, while individual contract values were not specified.

- The reported purchases include dedicated communications spacecraft for missile-warning missions and satellites associated with the National Reconnaissance Office’s reconnaissance constellation.
- Contractors assessing government satellite-service opportunities should account for differences in operational control, permitted missions, dedicated infrastructure, and terminal costs when comparing Starshield with commercial Starlink.
- The UK and New Zealand’s use or evaluation of the service indicates potential allied-government relevance, though the signal does not identify specific solicitations or contract values.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 16, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
- United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)
- New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)

### Vendors
- SpaceX (Starshield developer and satellite service provider)

### Key Quotes
> Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company.
> — Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO

### Sources
- [What is Starshield, SpaceX’s military version of Starlink?](https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/10/16/what-is-starshield-spacexs-military-version-of-starlink) - Defense News