US opens new missile testing site as Donald Trump warns of World War 3 following nuclear missile test

The US Army has unveiled a new facility designed to support the military's 'air defense capabilities' following the testing of an unarmed missile.

On February 20, a 'ribbon-cutting ceremony' was held for a new 'state-of-the-art modernized facility designed to support the US military’s air defense capabilities' at The McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma.

The new missile testing site

The new facility - called the Theater Readiness Monitoring Facility (TRMF) - will 'support the US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Security Assistance Management Directorate, Non-Standard Missile Systems, and HAWK missile system,' the US Army's site details.

And the ceremony was held to commemorate 'the continuation of a long-standing commitment to safeguarding the future through innovation, collaboration, and service to global security'.

"The TRMF is involved in the testing, recertification, assembly, and repair of the HAWK missile, an important air defense asset that has stood the test of time and continues to play a vital role in protecting lives around the globe, will be done inside the TRMF," it adds.

The unveiling of the new facility follows shortly after an unarmed missile was tested from a based in Santa Barbara County, California.

The unarmed missile test

A new missile testing facility has been opened in the US (Getty Stock Images)

On February 12, the Air Force launched an unarmed missile - Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile - from Vandenberg Space Force Base overnight.

Acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary Ashworth said: "Today’s Minuteman III test launch is just one of the ways the Department of the Air Force demonstrates the readiness, precision, and professionalism of US nuclear forces.

"It also provides confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission.”

And all of this comes amid US President Donald Trump's warning about World War Three.

Trump's warning of WW3

Donald Trump has said we're 'not so far away' from WW3 (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

On February 19, at the Future Investment Initiative Institute Priority Summit held in Miami, Trump said, as quoted by NDTV World: "Around the world, I'm moving quickly to end wars, settle conflicts and restore the planet to peace - I want peace, and I don't want to see [...] everybody being killed.

"And take a look at the death in the Middle East, and the death that's taking place between Russia and Ukraine that's been going on, and we're going to end it. There's no profit for anyone in having World War III, and you're not so far away from it, I'll tell you right now, you're not so far away.

"If we would have had [President Joe Biden's] administration for another year, you would have been in World War III, and now it's not going to happen."