China builds replica U.S. aircraft carrier in desert for missile tests

China is constructing highly detailed, full-scale replicas of U.S. military assets, including aircraft carriers and government buildings, in the Taklamakan Desert. Satellite imagery reveals these mock-ups are being used to test the country's growing arsenal of long-range missiles and new AI-guided systems. Analysts believe these preparations are aimed at eventual forceful reunification with Taiwan, a stated priority for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The scale and accuracy of these replicas suggest a specific focus on real adversaries, moving beyond generic defense capabilities, according to Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher at The Intel Lab. The Chinese military is employing a 37-kilometer railway system to move warship replicas, simulating actual ship movements at sea. This provides artillery and missile crews with mobile targets for training.

Among the identified replicas are the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and F-22, F-35, and F-16 fighter jets. Some of these models show significant damage from experimental missile strikes. The use of exact replicas allows Chinese engineers to refine the targeting algorithms for hypersonic missiles like the YJ-21 and YJ-17, as well as DF27 ballistic missiles, which have ranges up to 8,000 kilometers.

China's military drills extend beyond isolated targets, with satellite imagery capturing detailed models of strategic naval bases. One such replica is of the Yokosuka naval base in Japan, a critical U.S. military hub in the region. The exercises appear designed to simulate the blocking of U.S. forces that would likely be involved in a conflict over Taiwan.

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The accuracy of these replicas indicates an extremely specific orientation toward real adversaries, moving beyond the phase of building generic defense capabilities.