Putin calls Elon Musk a genius as Russia launches Starlink rival
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as a genius while discussing Russia's new satellite internet system at a summit in Moscow on Wednesday.
Russian leader praises SpaceX boss
Putin made the comment during a presentation by Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev. The Russian president stated that Musk is a real genius while acknowledging Russia's progress in building its own constellation. He noted that Russia has launched more than 30 satellites to begin this independent project.
Satellite numbers and future goals
Shadayev reported that SpaceX currently operates over 5,000 low-orbit satellites according to the minister. Putin agreed with this figure while noting that the actual count is closer to 10,000 based on independent tracking. The leader said the current effort represents just a first step before moving from quality to quantity.
Context of military communications
Russia is developing its own system to replace reliance on foreign satellite internet for battlefield use. This new network aims to support drone operations and communications for Russian forces in the ongoing conflict. The presentation took place alongside a group of African leaders attending the summit.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- The News International
- The Guardian
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