V.A. Bulanov1, S.A. Bulanov2, V.V. Kiryushkin3, E.E. Koltishev4, S.I. Babusenko5

1 MESC AF «N.E. Zhukovsky and Y.A. Gagarin Air Force Academy» (Voronezh, Russia)

2 183rd Training Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Rostov-on-Don, Russia)

3,5 JSC RIE “PROTEK” (Voronezh, Russia)

4 JSC Ural Design and Engineering Bureau DETAL (Kamensk-Uralsky, Sverdlovsk Region, Russia)

1 Vac9Paroxod@yandex.ru; 2 Stoopka1991@yandex.ru; 3 Kiryushkin.vlad@mail.ru; 4kjj_@mail.ru; 5 serbs@mail.ru

Formulation of the problem. To provide high-speed broadband connectivity across the entire Earth, including remote and hard-to-reach areas, the deployment and utilization of satellite communication systems is a highly promising approach. Currently, the Starlink satellite communication system operated by SpaceX holds a dominant position in this sector. The uplink from ground-based user terminals to the satellites is formed using a narrow main beam of the terminal’s antenna array pattern, with significant suppression of side-lobe radiation. However, the signal structure and characteristics are proprietary and remain undisclosed. Therefore, radio monitoring tasks such as detection and direction finding of Starlink user terminal signals present a complex challenge, making the development of a detector for these signals a relevant and timely objective.

Purpose. The aim of this work is to develop an algorithm for detecting signals from user terminals of the Starlink satellite communication system and to evaluate its performance.

Results. A detection algorithm for signals from Starlink user terminals was developed. Its functionality was validated using experimentally recorded signals. A comparative analysis was conducted between the proposed algorithm and an energy detector under identical accumulation conditions. The threshold signal-to-noise ratio at the detector input required for reliable signal detection was estimated through mathematical modeling.

Practical significance. The proposed detection algorithm can be utilized in the development of advanced radio monitoring and electronic intelligence systems.

Bulanov V.A., Bulanov S.A., Kiryushkin V.V., Koltishev E.E., Babusenko S.I. Uplink signal detector for the Starlink satellite communication system user terminal // Radiotekhnika. 2026. V. 90. № 7. P. 131−141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j00338486-202607-20

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