The multi-thousand Starlink satellite network launched by SpaceX not only provides its customers with high-speed Internet connectivity around the world, but also creates unique opportunities for military technologies. Researchers from China believe that the signals from these satellites can help in detecting low-profile aircraft equipped with stealth systems.

For decades, the armies of various countries, including the United States, China and Russia, have been developing stealth technologies for military aircraft to remain invisible to radars. This included creating surfaces that absorb or reflect radio waves, making them difficult to detect. However, Chinese scientists propose a different approach. Instead of actively using radars, they propose to use a passive system based on existing electromagnetic signals created by Starlink satellites.

This idea is based on the so-called scattering effect. Starlink satellites, which are constantly moving in orbit, emit radio waves, and if an airplane flies between the satellite and the earth, it creates small signal distortions. Such signal fluctuations can be detected and used to determine the location of the aircraft.

To confirm their theory, researchers from Wuhan University have built a special receiver capable of detecting Starlink signals. A DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone was used to test the system. Such devices are difficult to detect using conventional radars, as are stealth aircraft. When the Starlink satellite flew over the Philippines, scientists scanned space using its electromagnetic waves and were able to detect the drone.

The F-117 Nighthawk was one of the first aircraft developed using a stealth system.

The new technology uses existing signals, which makes it extremely effective for detecting stealth systems. Unlike active radar systems, it does not require the emission of radio waves, which means it remains invisible to the enemy. According to the results of a new study published in the Journal of Signal Processing, scientists were even able to record small movements, such as the rotation of the drone's blades.

Although the idea of passive detection of aircraft using satellite signals is not new (it was first proposed by Russian scientists in 2015), then there was no such developed network as Starlink. Today, these satellites cover vast territories and create a dense electromagnetic environment, which opens up new opportunities for military technologies.

It is interesting to note that in China itself, the Starlink network is inaccessible due to restrictions and encryption, but this does not prevent Chinese scientists from using its signals for their research. It is quite possible that similar developments are already underway not only in China, but also in other countries. This technology can become a powerful tool for detecting stealth aircraft and drones without revealing the location of the radar.

The development of satellite systems such as Starlink is making major changes not only in the field of communications, but also in military technology. Research by Chinese scientists shows that using the signals of these satellites to detect hidden objects can be an important step in the development of defense systems. As the number of satellites in orbit grows, it can be expected that such technologies will develop and improve, opening up new horizons for passive surveillance and tracking.