China builds U.S. warship replicas in desert for missile testing

The People's Liberation Army is constructing detailed, full-scale replicas of United States naval vessels in China's Taklamakan Desert to refine missile targeting capabilities. Satellite imagery has identified mock-ups of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and advanced Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers at missile test ranges.

To simulate the difficulty of striking moving targets, China has utilized a 75-meter ship model mounted on an extensive rail system. These activities are part of a systematic preparation for high-intensity conflict and are central to China's anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategy. This strategy aims to prevent U.S. forces from accessing the First Island Chain and the South China Sea.