New satellite imagery has revealed what analysts believe is a full-scale replica of a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer under construction at a Chinese military testing facility in the remote Taklamakan Desert, raising fresh questions about Beijing’s preparations for a potential maritime conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
The structure, located at the Ruoqiang Test Range in China’s far-western Xinjiang region, closely resembles one of the U.S. Navy’s most important warships. The replica was reportedly identified through satellite imagery by Joseph Wu, co-founder of the Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative, and has since attracted significant attention among defense analysts and open-source intelligence researchers.
According to satellite data from Sentinel-2 and Copernicus, construction on the mock destroyer appears to have begun in October 2025. Independent satellite operators monitoring the area reported that no comparable structure had existed at the site before that period. More recent imagery suggests that the project has advanced substantially, with major features of the vessel now clearly visible.
Analysts examining the images say the deck layout increasingly mirrors that of an operational Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Metal framework reportedly outlines key sections of the ship, including the bridge, funnel, and forward gun mount, giving the replica a striking resemblance to the U.S. warship.
While the precise purpose of the structure remains unclear and the imagery has not been independently verified by multiple official sources, military experts believe the mock-up is likely intended to support testing and evaluation of Chinese anti-ship missile systems.
This is not the first time China has built life-size replicas of American military assets in its desert testing ranges.
In 2021, satellite imagery revealed mock-ups resembling a U.S. aircraft carrier and two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers at the same facility. Later, in January 2024, analysts identified a massive black silhouette approximately 1,085 feet long that appeared to replicate the shape of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship of America’s newest carrier class.
Investigations at the time suggested that work on the carrier replica had begun in late 2023. The repeated appearance of American naval targets at the range has led analysts to conclude that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is conducting extensive testing against realistic representations of U.S. military platforms.
China has also reportedly constructed replicas of American combat aircraft. Satellite images released in 2024 appeared to show mock-ups of F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor stealth fighters positioned on a runway, alongside representations of a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.
The apparent strike damage visible around those mock targets prompted speculation that they had been used during missile or air attack exercises.
The focus on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is particularly significant because the warship forms the backbone of U.S. Navy surface combat operations.
Since entering service in the early 1990s, the destroyer class has evolved into one of the most versatile naval platforms in the world. Equipped with the advanced Aegis Combat System and carrying dozens of missiles in vertical launch cells, these warships perform a wide range of missions, including air defense, ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface combat operations.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are also frequent participants in freedom of navigation operations and routine transits through the Taiwan Strait, actions that Washington says demonstrate its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Beijing routinely criticizes such deployments, describing them as provocative and destabilizing.
Given their central role in any potential conflict involving U.S. forces in the Western Pacific, the destroyers represent high-value targets for Chinese military planners.
Defense analysts believe China’s growing collection of life-size military replicas serves a purpose beyond simple target practice.
Modern missile systems increasingly rely on advanced guidance technologies, including image-recognition software and artificial intelligence-assisted targeting. By constructing realistic mock-ups of enemy platforms, the PLA can potentially train and refine missile seekers to identify specific ship classes and strike vulnerable areas with greater precision.
Recent reports indicate that additional satellite imagery showed debris patterns and impact marks around the new destroyer replica, suggesting it may already have been subjected to missile testing.
If accurate, the imagery would provide further evidence that China is using the facility to evaluate and improve anti-ship weapons designed to penetrate sophisticated naval defenses.
The same approach has reportedly been applied to Taiwan-related contingency planning. Over the past decade, China has constructed replicas of key Taiwanese government and military facilities, including representations of central Taipei and buildings resembling the island’s presidential offices.
State television footage released in 2015 showed PLA forces destroying a structure that closely resembled Taiwan’s Presidential Office Building during a live-fire exercise, underscoring the military’s emphasis on realistic targeting scenarios.
The emergence of the new destroyer replica comes as China continues to expand what is already considered one of the world’s most formidable anti-ship missile arsenals.
Beijing’s military modernization strategy has heavily emphasized anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities designed to deter or complicate the deployment of U.S. naval forces near China’s coastline and strategic interests.
Among the most prominent anti-ship weapons in Chinese service are the YJ-series cruise missiles.
The YJ-83 remains widely deployed across the PLA Navy and Air Force and serves as a standard anti-ship weapon on many smaller combatants and aircraft. More capable systems include the YJ-18, a cruise missile with both anti-ship and land-attack functions and a reported range of between 220 and 540 kilometers.
The YJ-12, meanwhile, has emerged as one of China’s most potent anti-ship cruise missiles. With a range approaching 400 kilometers and supersonic terminal speed, the missile is capable of being launched from bombers, ships, and land-based platforms.
Recent military parades have showcased even more advanced designs. During China’s Victory Day celebrations in 2025, authorities unveiled the YJ-15 and YJ-19 missiles, both of which reportedly incorporate hypersonic or near-hypersonic technologies.
The YJ-15 is believed to possess a range between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometers and may utilize a boost-glide waverider configuration that enhances speed and maneuverability. The YJ-19 appears to feature characteristics associated with air-breathing hypersonic weapons, including a distinctive underbody air intake.
Beyond cruise missiles, China has invested heavily in anti-ship ballistic missiles, a category of weapons specifically designed to threaten large naval formations.
The DF-21D, often referred to as the world’s first operational anti-ship ballistic missile, has become one of the most closely watched elements of China’s missile force. Capable of reaching speeds approaching Mach 10 during its terminal phase and reportedly possessing a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers, the missile was developed specifically to engage ships at sea.
The larger DF-26 extends that threat even further. With a range of approximately 4,000 kilometers, the missile can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads and is believed to possess the capability to target moving naval vessels deep into the Pacific.
China is also believed to be developing the DF-27, a missile reportedly capable of striking targets at distances between 5,000 and 8,000 kilometers. Such a range would potentially place much of the Indo-Pacific and portions of the U.S. West Coast within reach.
Alongside these land-based systems, Beijing has introduced newer anti-ship ballistic missiles, including the YJ-21, a hypersonic weapon reportedly deployable from Type 055 cruisers and H-6K bombers. Military analysts consider the missile a significant threat because of its ability to maneuver during reentry, complicating interception efforts.
Additional systems unveiled in recent years include the YJ-17 and YJ-20, both believed to incorporate advanced maneuvering and hypersonic technologies designed to overcome modern missile defenses.
The construction of another full-scale American warship replica highlights the extent to which China is investing in realistic military training and weapons testing.
As Beijing continues to expand both its naval fleet and missile inventory, the ability to accurately identify and strike specific targets has become increasingly important. Large-scale replicas provide a cost-effective way to evaluate weapon performance, train operators, and improve targeting algorithms under realistic conditions.
For defense observers, the latest imagery offers another glimpse into the PLA’s evolving approach to warfare—one that combines sophisticated surveillance, advanced missile technology, and extensive testing against realistic representations of potential adversaries.
Whether the newly discovered destroyer replica is ultimately used for missile strikes, sensor testing, or targeting research, its appearance underscores a broader trend: China is preparing for increasingly complex maritime operations while continuing to build capabilities aimed at challenging U.S. naval power across the Indo-Pacific.
