Key facts
- Satellite images show China has constructed full-scale mockups of US Navy warships, including an aircraft carrier and destroyers, in the Taklamakan Desert.
- The site is reportedly used for ballistic missile testing.
- The construction is seen as an effort to bolster China's anti-carrier capabilities.
- A rail system with a ship-sized target may be used to simulate moving vessels.
- The Pentagon acknowledged awareness of the reports.
Satellite imagery indicates that China has constructed full-scale models of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and at least two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers in the Taklamakan Desert. The site, located in the Xinjiang region, is believed to be a new target range complex used for ballistic missile testing, reflecting China's ongoing efforts to develop and refine its anti-carrier capabilities.
The mockups, which include a full outline of a Ford-class aircraft carrier, are situated in an area that has previously been utilized for missile tests. Experts suggest that these targets are intended to enhance China's ability to counter U.S. naval assets, particularly amid heightened tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Further analysis of the images revealed a 6-meter-wide rail system with a ship-sized target, which could be employed to simulate moving vessels during missile tests. The U.S. Naval Institute reported that the complex has been used for ballistic missile testing, with geospatial intelligence company All Source Analysis confirming the findings.
Pentagon press secretary John F. Kirby stated that the U.S. Defense Department is aware of the media reports concerning the mockups but emphasized the U.S. focus on its own preparedness for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Researchers suggest that conducting such tests inland allows China to do so more securely, keeping them out of the view of U.S. military and intelligence assets, and potentially avoiding objections from neighboring countries concerned about stray missiles during sea-based tests.
While these desert tests allow for secure practice, experts note that they may not fully replicate the conditions of a marine environment, which could impact sensor performance and targeting accuracy. The Pentagon's latest report on China's military highlighted a 2020 live-fire launch of anti-ship ballistic missiles into the South China Sea, indicating ongoing development in this area.