Trump Announces Pentagon 'Super Range' for Advanced Weapons Testing in Montana

Former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the Pentagon will establish a new military "super range" in Montana to test advanced weapons and warfare technology, including hypersonic systems.

Speaking at a midterm campaign rally in Kalispell, Trump stated the facility would support the testing of potential autonomous weapons, space and electronic warfare technology, and supersonic and hypersonic systems. The initiative aims to position Montana as a key site for the development of next-generation U.S. military capabilities.

"I'm pleased to inform you and announce that right here in Montana, the Department of War is going to establish a new super range for testing advanced weapons and technologies," Trump told supporters gathered at Majestic Valley Arena.

Trump suggested the project had been highly sought after by other regions and credited persistent lobbying from Montana's Republican lawmakers, joking that Sen. Tim Sheehy repeatedly urged him to bring the project to the state.

"The rest of our country maybe won't be thrilled because a lot of other people wanted it also," Trump said. "Leave me alone, Tim. Tim Sheehy would drive me crazy."

The announcement places Montana at the center of a proposed military testing initiative involving some of the Pentagon's most sophisticated emerging technologies. Hypersonic weapons, capable of traveling at least five times the speed of sound, are among the advanced military capabilities under development by the Pentagon, according to the Government Accountability Office. The Department of Defense has also identified autonomous systems and electronic warfare capabilities as areas of strategic importance.

Trump did not specify the exact location within Montana for the new range, its projected cost, or when testing operations would commence. "Montana will help ensure the American military always reigned supreme," the president told the crowd.

The announcement came during Trump's second campaign rally of the day and third stop on a Western swing aimed at supporting Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. He had previously campaigned in Arizona and Alaska.