Ukraine Adopts Israeli hiSky Terminals for Long-Range Drones to Bypass SpaceX Limits

The Ukrainian military has begun integrating Israeli hiSky SmartLITE satellite terminals into its long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, according to recent reports from Ukrainian media and Russian military bloggers. The adaptation follows operational limitations imposed on alternative systems, providing Ukraine with a redundant communication channel for drones operating over Russian territory.

Russian military channels identified the Israeli-developed systems on downed unmanned aerial vehicles. Unlike SpaceX's network, hiSky operates through third-party satellite constellations rather than proprietary infrastructure. While its data transmission speeds are significantly lower than American alternatives, the compact hardware enables reliable exchanges of telemetry data and flight correction commands during missions.

Headquartered in Rosh HaAyin and founded in 2015, hiSky specializes in compact satellite communication equipment for mobile platforms. Its terminals utilize electronically steered antennas capable of maintaining connections through geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites. The primary tactical advantage of the Israeli system lies in its ability to bypass geographical restrictions that previously affected other satellite networks over Russian territory.

The search for alternative communication solutions intensified following restrictions on Starshield operations that disrupted several unmanned missions. Although military experts note that hiSky terminals are not designed for high-bandwidth video streaming, their capability to handle low-rate service messages offers Ukrainian forces a viable alternative for maintaining long-range drone control.