According to Reuters, within weeks of the United States starting bombing Iran, SpaceX representatives met with Pentagon officials. PDuring the talks, they indicated that the army had so far paid about PLN 5,000. hole. per connection per terminal, while using services worth approximately PLN 25,000. hole. Such data was to come both from two sources familiar with the matter and from Pentagon documents obtained by Reuters.
Ultimately, the Pentagon agreed to the price increase even though it almost doubled the cost of a single LUCAS drone. Previously, the American army paid approximately PLN 30,000 for one unit. hole. – Reuters calculates.
Dispute over prices and scope of services
SpaceX allegedly argued that the drones used by the US military operate in conditions more similar to aviation than to terrestrial services. The Pentagon, in turn, emphasized that the package for PLN 25,000 hole. it was created with airplanes in mind, not drones that only use the connection for a few minutes or hours.
This conflict is part of a broader context of tensions between SpaceX and the Department of Defense. Reuters notes that The Pentagon's growing dependence on the services of Elon Musk's company gives the billionaire an increasing influence on key areas of US national security.
- The U.S. military was to escort the tankers through Hormuz. The military issued a statement
Tensions also concern other projects, including plans to provide Iranians with internet access using direct-to-cell technology, which resembles the standard 5G network. This solution would enable bypassing communication blockades imposed by the Iranian authorities.
Elon Musk and a Pentagon spokesman comment
Both SpaceX and the Pentagon declined to comment officially on the matter to Reuters. After the article was published by Reuters Elon Musk described these reports as a “lie”. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote on X that the information presented by Reuters was “erroneous” and assured that SpaceX remains “a strong and valued partner of the War Department [Obrony]”. He also added that the claims in the article “are not based in reality and do not reflect close, effective cooperation” between the teams.
