The Department of Defense said Thursday it is buying more Starlink terminals from SpaceX for use in Ukraine, as the conflict between that country and Russia wages well into its second year.<\/p>\n

The Pentagon provided little other details about the order, however, including the number of terminals it would purchase or pricing. SpaceX did not respond to TechCrunch\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cSatellite communications constitute a vital layer in Ukraine\u2019s overall communications network and the department contracts with Starlink for services of this type,\u201d the Pentagon said in a statement. \u201cHowever, for operational security reasons and due to the critical nature of these systems, we do not have additional information regarding specific capabilities, contracts, or partners to provide at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russian armed forces have repeatedly targeted internet and mobile networks in Ukraine \u2014 including attacking fiber-optic cables, cell phone towers, and radio antennas. At times, these campaigns have left parts of the country in temporary communication blackouts. Starlink, however, has comparatively little ground infrastructure beyond each small terminal, making it more resilient to attack.<\/p>\n