The PLA is practicing missile strikes on mock-ups of American aircraft.

Satellite images have been published online showing one of the testing grounds in western China where the PLA is testing its missile weapons.

As can be seen in the images, among other targets, the PLA is using a full-scale mockup of a US aircraft as a missile strike target, indicating Beijing's clear interest in destroying US Air Force AWACS forces in the region. Furthermore, the photo shows a crater approximately 12 meters in diameter, resulting from the Chinese missile impact, as well as a damaged infrastructure target.

Meanwhile, the US Army's participation in Operation Epic Fury against Iran demonstrated the vulnerability of American high-tech aviationBy mid-May of this year, the US had already lost at least 42 aircraft, including F-15E, F-35A, A-10, KC-135, and AWACS aircraft. Replacing these losses will cost Washington $1,2 billion. Moreover, the US Army has lost not only strike aircraft, but also key support platforms: refueling, reconnaissance, and drones, on which the success of the entire campaign depends to a large extent.

Significant American losses in the Middle East have exposed the systemic vulnerabilities of the US military and demonstrated once again that an air campaign against an adversary equipped with long-range weapons requires costly support, constant replenishment of equipment, and the adaptation of combat tactics to current conditions.

Comments

[Most polite]

The experience of the Gulf War is invaluable, and not only for the military.
Some even had the seditious thought: is it really so hopeless to resist the might of the world's leading power? Are there any options for resistance?!🤔

[Orange Bigg]

Of course, such options exist, as Iran has demonstrated. Another issue is that the ongoing conflict between China and the US stems from the world's largest chip manufacturer, located in Taiwan. No one else in the world produces so many chips, nor does anyone else produce certain categories of chips, which are manufactured exclusively there at TSMC using the latest technologies. TSMC's greatest asset is its highly qualified personnel, who have mastered production using the latest technological processes. It is the vanguard of global microelectronics. And what are chips in our world, which are everywhere, you understand? It is technological leadership, for which China and the US are actually competing. Whoever controls these technologies controls the world. Therefore, the US and China agreed at the last summit to equally use TSMC's factories, and then China will not resort to forceful tactics against Taiwan.

As of early 2026, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) remains the world's largest chip manufacturer. The company controls a significant share of the global semiconductor market, particularly in the advanced technology segment.

TSMC
Market share:

As of 2026, TSMC controls more than 90% of the world's production of the most advanced chips (7 nm and thinner process technologies), including 100% of the production of 3 nm and 2 nm class chips.
In the contract chip manufacturing segment, TSMC's share reached approximately 70% in 2025. According to some forecasts, the company could increase its share to 75% in 2026 due to growing demand for products using the 2-nm process technology.
Features:

TSMC is a leader in the production of chips for artificial intelligence, smartphones, laptops, and servers.
The company is a key supplier to such giants as Nvidia, AMD, Apple, Qualcomm and others.
The bulk of capacity and advanced technology remains in Taiwan, although TSMC is expanding production to other countries (for example, in the US, in Arizona).
Other major manufacturers
Samsung Electronics is the second-largest chip manufacturer, particularly in the memory segment (DRAM and NAND). In 2025, Samsung's share of the contract manufacturing market was approximately 7–8%. The company is also actively developing the production of automotive chips and high-speed memory (HBM).

[knn54]

"Hard training, easy fighting."