FEATURE | Drone test disruption shines spotlight on Pentagon's Starlink reliance

The Pentagon did not respond to questions about the drone test or SpaceX's work with the navy. The Pentagon's chief information officer, Kirsten Davies, said the “Department leverages multiple, robust, resilient systems for its broad network."

The navy and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. Despite facing growing competition from Amazon.com, which announced an $11.6 billion agreement this week to acquire satellite maker Globalstar, SpaceX remains far ahead in low-earth orbit communications.

Beyond drones, SpaceX has cemented a near-monopoly for space launches and provides satellite communications with Starlink and its national security-focused constellation, Starshield, generating billions of dollars for the company. Last month, US Space Force said it had reassigned its upcoming GPS launch to a SpaceX rocket for the fourth time, due to a glitch in the Vulcan rocket made by the Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance.