In the heart of the Taklamakan Desert, in a protected military zone in Xinjiang Province, China has deployed a real-life replica of the USS Gerald Ford-class aircraft carrier. But unlike the real giants, this aircraft carrier does not float. It stands motionless on the sand - like a target, writes Slashgear.

The unusual object attracted the attention of world intelligence after the publication of satellite photos by Planet Labs. The Chinese mock-up reproduces key elements of the largest aircraft carrier of the US Navy - from the deck to the radar masts. And it is used as a shooting target for testing anti-ship ballistic missiles, in particular the DF-26 - known in the world as "aircraft carrier killers".

According to analysts, the main purpose of creating such models is to prepare for a possible conflict with the US in the Indo-Pacific region. The ship installed in the desert imitates the full radar signature of the real Gerald Ford. This allows the Chinese military to calibrate its missiles with extreme precision.

This is not the first time - mock-ups of American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and other ships have been spotted. China systematically uses the desert as a training ground for strikes against Western weapons. According to military experts, this is a signal not only of a show of force, but also of serious preparation for high-tech warfare.

This military spectacle in the sand is also a tool for pressure. The construction of such facilities demonstrates China's ability to wage an asymmetric struggle against US naval superiority. This is deterrence, blackmail and a test of America's readiness to confront new threats.

In response to such moves, Washington is expanding its military presence in the Pacific region, in particular through the newly created AUKUS bloc (Australia, Great Britain and the United States). However, Beijing seems to be demonstrating that it is preparing for any scenario - even if the battle for the ocean begins in the desert. | BGNES