A Chinese company has begun producing mobile replicas of the U.S.-made HIMARS rocket artillery system, offering the mockups for training and limited export.
Videos shared on Chinese social media platforms show a private firm demonstrating moving versions of the system, designed to resemble the American launchers.
According to the company, the replicas are being produced in small batches but are available for wider orders. The firm claims it can fulfill customer requests and provide tailored versions for training use.
Such replicas are not unique to China. The United States has also developed high-fidelity mockups of modern foreign weapons systems, including Chinese and Russian designs, to support realistic training for aircraft crews and reconnaissance drone operators. These models reproduce not only the external appearance of the systems but also replicate their electromagnetic signatures, helping forces prepare for combat against adversary weapons.
The timing of the Chinese replica program coincides with Taiwan’s fielding of its first U.S.-supplied HIMARS systems. Taipei received 11 of 29 launchers last year, with the first unit formally tested in May. Each launcher has a range of approximately 300 kilometers (190 miles), allowing Taiwan to target coastal areas in China’s Fujian province across the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan recently activated its first unit armed with HIMARS, adding a new long-range strike capability to its defense posture. The deployment underscores Taipei’s growing emphasis on precision fires to deter potential aggression.
China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, has stepped up military pressure around the island over the past five years. The People’s Liberation Army has carried out large-scale drills and maintains near-daily naval and air patrols around Taiwan, highlighting the tension across the strait.
While the replicas are not functional weapons, their production comes at a time of heightened competition across the Taiwan Strait. With Taiwan integrating U.S.-supplied HIMARS into its arsenal and China showcasing copies for training, the system has become another symbol of the intensifying standoff in East Asia.