Hongqi-16 Missile Appears on U.S. Soil? Pentagon Sends Signal to China: This Time, It's Serious

On July 25, 2025, at the Oshkosh Air Show in Wisconsin, USA, a camouflage-painted missile launcher sparked whispered discussions among professional spectators. Its inclined six-round launcher, wing-body aerodynamic design of the missile body, and high radar antenna precisely replicated the core features of China's current Hongqi-16 air defense missile system.

The next day, the Wisconsin National Guard released a press release confirming that this was the first time the U.S. military publicly displayed a "copy of the Hongqi-16 air defense missile system" and defined it as a "comprehensive training aid." This model, named "H16-type Towed Simulation Target" by the military, has been put into use at the Volk Field Readiness Training Center.

The website "Army Identification" emphasized in its report that this is a high-fidelity, towable simulation system designed to create "real combat conditions" for fifth-generation fighter pilots. Attendees observed that the model even finely replicated the unique wing-body aerodynamic layout of the missile body - a key design for the Hongqi-16 to intercept supersonic targets.

Different from earlier simple static models, the current version has electromagnetic spectrum simulation capabilities, capable of replicating real radar radiation characteristics. The Wisconsin National Guard clearly stated that the model is used for combat scenario adaptation training for fifth-generation aircraft pilots. Combined with the anti-aircraft suppression tactics practiced by the F-35C aircraft during the 2024 Guam exercise, it is clear that the U.S. military is systematically preparing to counter China's regional denial system.

This copy is called a "towable, high-fidelity Hongqi-16 missile launcher replica," aiming to allow U.S. pilots to practice detecting, identifying threats, and prioritizing procedures under real combat conditions.

The essence of modern military confrontation is "war through pre-practice." The missile model at Oshkosh Airport and the simulation platform in Lianyungang laboratory are engaging in virtual battlefield confrontations. It seems that the Pentagon is serious now, preparing seriously to deal with China's air defense system and practicing how to destroy it.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839492626511881/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.