Russia is making some major moves in the new space race. It will spend up to $20 billion on space by 2026 to keep pace with China and the United States.
- Russia is building on old programs from the Soviet Union, including a positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system, robust communications and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellites, according to Kaitlyn Johnson, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
- Johnson said both Russia and China have invested in civil and military space capabilities as well as counterspace weapons to deny the United States access to GPS or satellite communications.
- Russia and China have prioritized different parts of their space programs, which fosters a somewhat symbiotic relationship, said Johnson.
