Army opens test ranges to small companies to try to get weapons quicker to the battlefield
- The U.S. Army is opening test ranges to private companies developing missiles and drones.
- Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stated this initiative aims to reduce the bureaucratic delays in acquiring new weapons.
- Companies can request access to test ranges within 30 days through a newly launched online marketplace.
- The program allows companies to test new weapons even without existing military contracts.
- The first company to utilize this program successfully tested a new cruise missile in Morocco.
The U.S. Army announced that it is opening test ranges to private companies in order to expedite the acquisition of new weapons such as missiles and drones. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll emphasized that this initiative aims to cut down the months or years of bureaucratic red tape that typically hinders military contractors from getting their products tested and approved.
Companies can now request access to U.S. or allied test ranges through a newly launched online marketplace, with a commitment to grant access within 30 days. This change is part of a broader effort to encourage smaller companies to innovate and produce effective weapon systems more rapidly, especially in light of recent conflicts that have highlighted the need for faster military adaptations.
The first company to take advantage of this program, Covenant Industries, successfully tested its Anthem missile at an Army range in Morocco. This initiative is seen as a response to the changing nature of warfare and the increasing demand for advanced weaponry, particularly in the context of ongoing military engagements that have strained U.S. stockpiles of advanced munitions.
美国陆军向小型公司开放测试场，以更快将武器送往战场
美国陆军宣布，正在向私营公司开放测试场，以加快新武器（如导弹和无人机）的采购。陆军秘书丹·德里斯科尔强调，此举旨在减少通常阻碍军事承包商进行产品测试和审批的数月或数年的官僚程序。
公司现在可以通过新上线的在线市场申请访问美国或盟友的测试场，承诺在30天内授予访问权限。这一变化是鼓励小型公司迅速创新和生产有效武器系统的更广泛努力的一部分，尤其是在近期冲突突显出快速军事适应的需求背景下。
首家利用该项目的公司Covenant Industries在摩洛哥的陆军测试场成功测试了其Anthem导弹。这一举措被视为对战争性质变化的回应，以及对先进武器日益增长需求的反应，特别是在持续的军事行动中，这些行动已经耗尽了美国的先进弹药库存。