Modern conflicts show that control over space infrastructure — above all, satellites — can decide success or defeat on the battlefield. Łukasz Wilczyński, an international expert on the space sector, spoke on Polish Radio about the importance of space technology in 21st-century warfare. He stresses that Poland must develop its own satellite systems so as to be independent of foreign infrastructure and able to monitor its territory and borders in real time.
The start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine showed just how important satellite systems are. Some of the very first attacks targeted precisely the satellite infrastructure used by Ukrainian services and the military command. As the expert explains, “the space sector was officially recognised several years ago — by NATO, for example — as the so-called fifth domain of warfare.” Today satellites perform several key functions: they provide observation of territory, telecommunications and navigation. Satellite imagery, radar imagery in particular, makes it possible to see the situation on the ground even through cloud or at night, while satellite communications enable coordination between military units.
Satellite internet has become particularly important. During the war in Ukraine, portable Starlink terminals have allowed the military to maintain communication between field units and headquarters. In Wilczyński’s words, “had the Ukrainians not been supplied with portable Starlink terminals, communication between field units and headquarters would have been much more difficult.” In modern warfare, communication means far more than simply exchanging messages. It is the backbone of so-called network-centric operations, which make it possible to coordinate troop movements, receive intelligence, transmit drone footage and make decisions quickly. Without a stable connection, units can find themselves effectively cut off, which significantly reduces an army’s effectiveness.
Satellites also play an important role in reconnaissance. Even before combat operations begin, the military receives satellite data showing enemy positions, movements of equipment and changes in the terrain. This is especially important in positional warfare, when the sides hold the same ground for long periods. In such conditions, satellite imagery allows constant monitoring of the situation at the front. Radar satellites, moreover, can partly “penetrate” obstacles and the surface, which yields additional information about objects on the ground.
Space technology plays a part in the information war too. Satellite images can document events and serve as evidence in international investigations. The world saw, for instance, satellite photographs of destroyed buildings in Mariupol and evidence of the crimes in Bucha. Data of this kind has a major influence on international opinion and political decisions.
At the same time, the war in Ukraine has exposed the problem of dependence on private technology. Much of the communication on the battlefield has been provided by the Starlink satellite internet system, which belongs to a private company. At one point a debate arose over the fact that access to this critically important technology effectively depends on the decision of one man — the American entrepreneur Elon Musk. This creates a strategic risk for states. As Wilczyński stresses, “Europe should strive for independence in this area. It has both the technological capability and the financial resources to do so.”
That is why Poland and the European Union are investing ever more actively in their own satellite communication and observation systems. This is not only about security but also about technological sovereignty. Developing the space industry brings economic benefits too: it creates new jobs, stimulates the growth of technology companies and generates tax revenue. Investment in home-grown technology, the expert notes, pays off “not only in the form of services or infrastructure, but also in the form of economic development”.
An important step for Poland was bringing into service its first radar observation satellite, which is at the disposal of the country’s Armed Forces. Such satellites can work regardless of the weather or time of day, which makes them extremely useful for military reconnaissance, border monitoring and operational planning.
Although space is increasingly becoming part of military strategy, experts warn of the dangers of destroying satellites outright. Russia and China have already tested kinetic weapons designed to hit spacecraft. Such actions, however, can have serious consequences. As Wilczyński explains, “Imagine that orbit is one big billiard table.” Destroying a single satellite can create thousands of fragments that collide with other spacecraft and trigger a chain reaction.
That is why other methods are now used far more often — hacking attacks, for example, or interference with the operation of satellite systems. International organisations are already working on rules intended to prevent conflicts in space from escalating.
Modern wars depend more and more on technology, and space is becoming one of the main arenas of strategic rivalry. Satellites provide communication, reconnaissance, navigation and an information advantage. That is why states are investing ever more actively in their own space programmes: control over space infrastructure is gradually becoming one of the key factors of security in the 21st century.
Dr. Myroslav Trofymuk
Born in Lviv. Designer, director, musician, researcher, founder of ZEMLA STUDIO. Master of classical philology and digital marketing, PhD in the history of Ukrainian literature. Member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine. Since 2022 he has authored the CENTRUM MUNDI audio show for Polish Radio for Ukraine, continuing the same research into the contemporary music scene in Ukraine and Poland.
Full bio →
