President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday for a new defense "super range" to be located in Montana, intended for testing advanced military technologies. The facility will reportedly focus on autonomous weapons, space systems, electronic warfare, and hypersonic weapons.
The announcement was made during a campaign event in Kalispell, Montana, as part of Trump's tour supporting Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. "Montana will help ensure the American military always reigns supreme," Trump stated.
While Trump did not specify if the new initiative would be connected to existing facilities, Montana is already home to the Montana Spaceport & Test Range and the Limestone Hills Innovation & Test Campus. These existing entities focus on aerospace and defense testing for commercial, civil, and military applications.
Military planners increasingly view autonomous weapons, space systems, electronic warfare, and hypersonic weapons as critical components of future warfare. These technologies, incorporating drones and AI-enabled platforms, are seen as a way to reduce costs and minimize risk to military personnel. Trump previously established the Space Force as a distinct branch of the U.S. armed forces in 2019, signaling a focus on space defense.
Supersonic weapons travel faster than Mach 1, while hypersonic weapons exceed Mach 5. Trump has used campaign stops to announce government projects in the lead-up to the midterm elections, which will determine all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats.