Capture, mine the Moon for minerals: Russia, China's plan for space dominance? What US spies said

Amid rising tension between USA and Russia over the Ukraine war, the American Defense Intelligence Agency warned that Beijing and Moscow are trying to "undercut" Washington in the space sector to gain military and economic advantage.

The DIA released a report titled "Challenges in Security in Space Report - 2022", spelling out the ways in which China and Russia are trying to overtake the US.

Dr John Huth, DIA Defense Intelligence Officer for Space and Counterspace, said, "Russia and China are our primary strategic competitors are taking steps to undercut the United States and our allies in the space domain. Both nations view space as a requirement for winning modern wars, especially against Western nations, and look to prove themselves as world leaders."

Kevin Ryder, DIA Senior Defense Intelligence Officer for Space and Counterspace, said "Both nations (Russia, China) seek to broaden their space exploration initiatives, together and individually, with plans to explore the Moon and Mars during the next 30 years. And if successful, these efforts will likely lead to attempts by Beijing and Moscow to exploit the Moon's natural resources.

China has launched a robotic lander and rover to the far side of the moon and an orbiter lander and rover in one mission to Mars. It has also launched multiple missiles capable of destroying satellites and deploying mobile jammers to deny satellite communications and GPS.

Moscow, on the other hand, has developed a suite of counter space weapons capabilities, including electronic warfare, to deny, degrade and disrupt communications and to deny the use of space-based imagery. Russia is also developing a mobile missile that is able to destroy satellites, and crewed space vehicles."