Mock-ups of American fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter-bombers were spotted at a training ground in China. This is reported by the South China Morning Post with reference to the Kanwa International Journal.
Four mock-ups of aircraft were spotted on satellite images of the missile range of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) in Xinjiang. The editor-in-chief of the magazine, Andrei Chang, suggested that the models could be used as targets for the Chinese medium-range ballistic missiles DF-16 and DF-21C.
Chang stressed that the deployment of DF-21C missiles with a range of about 2,000 kilometers allows them to cover the territory of Japan. In his opinion, Chinese exercises using F-35 mockups can be a response to the increase in the number of American F-35B at the Iwakuni Air Base and Japanese F-35A at the Misawa Air Base.
Earlier, the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters worked out actions in conditions of a potential war with China or Russia, the 19FortyFive publication reported . The planes simulated air combat and the destruction of enemy air defense systems during exercises in Israel.
In April, Alex Hollings, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps (ILC), described a potential conflict between the United States and China. In his opinion, now the United States cannot resist the PLA in the South China Sea. Hypersonic DF-17 missiles will not allow the use of US carrier-based aircraft. Hollings noted that the promising B-21 Raider bomber will be able to deprive China of an advantage.
Daniil Irinin
