Starlink Jamming: A Real Test of Iran’s Electronic Warfare Capabilities

Starlink Jamming: A Real Test of Iran’s Electronic Warfare Capabilities

Analytical Report by AfgNews24

During the recent unrest, one of the most critical tools used to bypass communication restrictions was the “Starlink” satellite internet—a network previously introduced as uncontainable and immune to disruption. However, field evidence and technical reports indicate that this perception has faced serious challenges in practice (see the generated image above).

Based on available information, the Islamic Republic of Iran has successfully disrupted a significant portion of the Starlink network’s efficiency within the country during these events; in some regions, up to 80% of terminals have either been disabled or faced severe quality degradation.

#### **The Failure of a Common Perception**
Until now, many experts believed that due to the low orbit of Starlink satellites, their constant movement, and continuous frequency hopping, effective jamming of this network was practically impossible. Even the experience of the Ukraine war reinforced this belief, where SpaceX managed to neutralize some disruption attempts through software modifications. However, what occurred in Iran demonstrated that the main challenge this time was not software-based, but hardware and field-oriented.

#### **Operational Pattern: Smart and Targeted Disruption**
Unlike a total internet blackout which carries extensive social and economic consequences, the actions taken against Starlink were localized, calculated, and targeted. Reports suggest that mobile Electronic Warfare (EW) units were deployed at specific points, broadcasting intense radio noise on the bands used by Starlink terminals.

Simultaneously, disruption of satellite positioning systems (GPS) prevented the network’s smart antennas from accurately determining their location and correctly aligning their communication beams with passing satellites. The result of these measures was not a complete disconnection, but a practical paralysis of the network; a state where speed dropped drastically, packet loss increased, and uploading images or videos became a difficult or sometimes impossible task. Consequently, the most advanced satellite internet technology was reduced in some areas to a level resembling an old, unstable connection line.

#### **A Real Test of Operational Capability**
What happened should be considered a real field test for Iran’s electronic warfare capabilities; an experiment conducted not in laboratory conditions, but in a real field with real users and an active network. This indicates that Iran has reached a level of operational understanding of modern satellite communication architecture that goes beyond temporary and rudimentary measures.

#### **Strategic Consequences Beyond an Internal Event**
The relative containment of Starlink is not merely a short-term technical or security success, but carries broader strategic implications:
* **First**, this event showed that networks introduced as guarantors of the free flow of information have serious vulnerabilities.
* **Second**, the role of electronic warfare as a low-cost and effective tool in crisis management has become more prominent than ever.
* **Third**, this scientific and technical experience of Iran is being closely monitored by military and technological observers in the region and beyond; as it proves that even the most advanced satellite networks are not absolutely immune to the will and scientific progress of Islamic countries.

#### **Conclusion**
Recent developments have shown that Starlink, contrary to its media portrayal, is not an invincible system. By relying on electronic warfare capabilities, operational experience, and the smart use of mobile equipment, Iran has been able to severely limit access to this network at critical moments. This event is a clear sign of changing rules in future communication battles; where superiority is gained not just by more satellites, but by a deeper understanding of the spectrum, space, and the real field.

AfgNews24