Recent satellite images reveal that China may be using replicas of US warplanes as targets for military training exercises in a remote desert area in northwest China.
Captured by Planet Labs PBC on April 19, and obtained by Business Insider, the images show what appear to be mock-ups of Lockheed Martin's F-35 and F-22 fighter jets at a model airfield in China's Taklamakan Desert.
(Photo : Image via Clash Report on X) Satellite images reveal China is using mock-ups of US warplanes, including F-22s and F-35s, for target practice in a remote desert.
Sattelite Images Suggest China Is Practicing Attack on Mock US Aircraft
The satellite photos depict around 20 aircraft positioned near a building and three more near a runway. While most of these mock-ups are covered, nine are exposed, with six strongly resembling the F-22 fighter jet. Business Insider tells us that other aircraft at the site could be based on the P-8A Poseidon and the U-2 reconnaissance plane.
Chinese PLA Air Force pilots are learning to practice air strikes on American F-35 and F-22 mockups.
Notably, the images also show scorch marks and craters around the site, suggesting that the mock aircraft and the area are being used for target practice. Some of the model warplanes appear to be destroyed or partially damaged, indicating direct hits.
Interestingly, these scorch marks and craters were not visible in a previous image from June 28, 2021, which showed only seven aircraft and an unscathed runway area.
Brady Africk (via Business Insider), an open-source intelligence analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, stated that the dummy aircraft seem to be targeted for training.
He noted that this is similar to other mock-ups created by China, adding, "Creating mock-ups of enemy assets seems to be one of China's favored strategies for determining how to neutralize them."
China's Target Practice Drills on US Military Asset Mock-ups
This is not the first time China has constructed replicas of American military assets for target practice. In January, satellite images revealed mock-ups of the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, also located in the Taklamakan Desert.
These replicas were believed to be used for refining China's missile seekers with image-recognition capabilities, potentially improving their accuracy in targeting specific parts of ships where a missile could do the most damage.
The presence of these mock-ups in the desert is significant, as it suggests China is continually working to enhance its military capabilities against its strongest military rival.
In addition to targeting US warplanes and naval vessels, China has also constructed a replica of a crucial area in Taiwan's capital, including the presidential office and other government buildings.
This move has raised concerns that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is preparing for a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, especially as tensions between the two nations have escalated with increased military activity around the island.
