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Navy breaks ground on new facility at Cape Canaveral AF Station

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Navy broke ground on a new facility on Thursday to test trident Missiles in Brevard County.

Once complete, it could bring at least 100 naval jobs to the Space Coast.

The Navy is expanding its operation and could secure a presence at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for a long time.

The Navy is building a new multimillion dollar testing complex at the site of one of the original launch pads used to test military missile back in the 50s.

The Navy said it was not planning on launching trident missiles from the Air Force station, however, occasionally it does unannounced test launches off shore.

This facility will be used for computer modeling and testing of the launch systems, guidance and navigation, before they are put on one of the 14 submarines in the Navy fleet.

The Navy said it will also be used to test out new systems for the nuclear arsenal as they are integrated into the Navy's new submarine now in development.

"It will be the original equipment, which will go in the submarines.  We will test not only the equipment, we will also test the documentation and the individuals, the personnel, to make sure they are ready to go certify install and go take it to sea," said US Navy Rear Admiral Terry Benedict.

The jobs that will be created will have average salaries of $90,000, officials said.

Representatives from the British Royal Navy were at the groundbreaking as well, because Britain plans to use the test facility for its submarine fleet.