TechThe U.S. is preparing for a war with China? Trainings already started

The U.S. is preparing for a war with China? Trainings already started

Marines' drone against the backdrop of Chinese aircraft models
Marines' drone against the backdrop of Chinese aircraft models
Images source: © X

7:06 PM EDT, October 24, 2023

American preparations for war with China are not limited to the expansion of military installations or maneuvers with allies. New footage shows that mock-ups of Chinese military equipment, such as J-7 and J-20 aircraft, are being used in Marines exercises.

Information on this matter emerged from a user of platform X, 笑脸男人. He posted a link and selected frames from a movie, showing the Marines' exercises - the 2nd Short-Range Air Defense Battalion (2d LAAD) at one of the training centers.

American soldiers used the R80D SkyRaider drone, and as described in the video, the purpose of these exercises was to evaluate the effectiveness and possible application of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with the Silvus Technologies data transmission system.

However, it is not the technical details, but the background of the recording that has garnered the most interest. The video shows (although it cannot be ruled out that this is a "controlled leak") that the Marines are training near full-size mockups of Chinese J-7 and J-20 aircraft.

Chinese planes J-7 and J-20

The Chengdu J-7 is a Chinese fighter jet, a development of an unlicensed copy of the Soviet MiG-21 aircraft, designated for the role of an interceptor fighter. Despite the limited modernity of this design, the aircraft was produced until 2017, with production rounding off at approximately 2400 units.

The Chengdu J-20 is a Chinese aircraft classified as a 5th-generation machine. It was built using stealth technology, and its estimated range suggests that the purpose of this design is for battle at a distance from continental bases, which could happen in the event of a conflict with the United States.

Marines are returning to their roots

Marines' exercises fall into a series of other actions, showing how seriously the United States takes the risk of war with China. This includes, among other things, supplementing the navy with fast hospital ships, constructing units capable of rescue actions on the high seas, testing the use of landing ships in the role of light aircraft carriers, and expanding military installations, including on the island of Guam.

An element of these preparations is also the reform of the Marine Corps. Over the last 30 years, the Marines have become similar to land forces and have been used in such roles, including during operations in Iraq or Afghanistan.

However, recent years have been marked by USMC reforms. The Corps is returning to its roots and once again becoming an expeditionary force. One of the consequences of these changes was the Corps' resignation from heavy armored weapons, which benefited Poland, which bought readily available M1A1 Abrams FEP tanks, withdrawn by the Marines.

See also