Senator Tim Sheehy Mentions Former Glasgow Air Force Base As Potential "Super Range" For Testing New Weapons

A new military testing facility announced by President Donald Trump could put northeast Montana in the running for a major defense project.

Trump announced last Wednesday that the federal government plans to establish what he called a “super range” in Montana to test advanced military weapons and technologies.

The proposed facility could be used to test autonomous weapons, space-related technology, electronic warfare systems, and supersonic and hypersonic weapons.

U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy has been advocating for an advanced military training and testing range in Montana. Sheehy has also pointed to the former Glasgow Air Force Base as a possible location, although no site has been officially selected.

The former base is located about 20 miles north of Glasgow in Valley County. It covers thousands of acres and includes Glasgow Industrial Airport, where Boeing operates a flight-testing facility through its subsidiary, Montana Aviation Research Company.

The airport's long runway and the region's relatively open airspace have made it attractive for aircraft testing. Boeing has used the site for decades to test commercial aircraft and new aviation technologies.

However, it remains unclear whether the proposed military range would use the former base, expand an existing testing facility, or be located elsewhere in Montana.

Trump did not announce a location, construction schedule or overall project cost.

Sheehy has said Montana's large expanses of land, existing military infrastructure and technical expertise make the state a potential fit for advanced defense testing. His office also says the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which has not yet received final congressional approval, includes $10 million for a feasibility study for an advanced training range.

That funding would support a study of the proposal, not construction of the facility itself.

The announcement comes as the military looks for additional places to test emerging weapons and technologies under realistic conditions.

For Glasgow and Valley County, the possibility raises questions about whether the former Air Force base could once again take on a military-related role, potentially bringing new investment and activity to the area.

For now, though, the former Glasgow Air Force Base remains only a possible location. More information about site selection, funding and the project's requirements is still needed before its impact on northeast Montana can be determined.