China Builds Full-Scale US Warship Replica For Missile Target Practice
Recent satellite imagery has revealed a full-scale replica of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier built in a remote Chinese desert. The mock-up is reportedly being utilized as a target for missile testing and operational training exercises.
Satellite images obtained by defense analysts show a highly detailed outline of a United States aircraft carrier located at a firing range in the Taklamakan Desert of Xinjiang. The facility includes mock-ups of other naval assets, such as guided-missile destroyers, strategically positioned on a railway system to simulate moving targets.
This development suggests a significant focus by the People's Liberation Army on developing and testing long-range anti-ship ballistic missiles. By creating precise physical scales of American vessels, the military can calibrate seeker systems and evaluate the impact of various warhead configurations against specific naval structures.
Military observers note that these desert ranges have been expanded over several years to include increasingly sophisticated replicas. These sites permit the testing of high-precision weaponry away from international surveillance that would be present during maritime exercises in the South China Sea or Pacific Ocean.
The mock-up is reportedly being used for missile target practice and training. Source: US Naval Institute News and various defense intelligence reports.
