Donald Trump announces a new military super-range in Montana for testing autonomous, hypersonic weapons and advanced technologies

Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, during an election event in Kalispell, Montana, the construction of a new super military testing range for testing advanced weapons and technologies. The project is expected to be developed by the U.S. Department of War, but the U.S. administration did not specify the exact location, budget or operational timeline.

According to Trump, the center will test autonomous systems based on artificial intelligence, space technologies, electronic warfare equipment, and supersonic and hypersonic weapons. These are being developed for missions involving reduced human intervention, surveillance, military communications, and reducing adversaries’ reaction times.

Montana already has infrastructure for testing aerospace and defense technologies, including Montana Spaceport & Test Range and Limestone Hills Innovation & Test Campus. The president did not clarify whether the new range would be connected to these facilities or operate separately.

The announcement was made during the election tour through which Trump is supporting Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November 3. The project is part of a policy to expand U.S. military capabilities, following the establishment of the U.S. Space Force in 2019.