According to Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt), the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is actively conducting market research to integrate ruggedized Starlink and Starshield terminals into AC-130J Ghostrider gunships. This initiative aims to leverage advanced AI-powered satellite communications for improved real-time data transfer, situational awareness, and battlefield connectivity. The adoption of Starlink’s AI-driven network could significantly enhance defense capabilities, offering new business opportunities for AI communication solution providers specializing in secure, high-speed, and resilient military-grade systems (Source: Sawyer Merritt, Twitter, Jan 2, 2026).