US 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, drones, and other weapons.
- Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stated this effort aims to reduce the red tape that delays military contracts.
- Companies can gain access to test ranges within 30 days of making a request through a new online marketplace.
- The initiative is partly driven by the need to replenish U.S. military stockpiles diminished by ongoing conflicts.
- The first company to utilize this program has tested a new cruise missile in Morocco.
CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. (AP) — The U.S. Army announced that it is opening up test ranges to private companies developing missiles, drones, and other weapons to expedite their acquisition for battlefield use. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll emphasized that this initiative aims to cut down on the lengthy approval processes that often hinder military contractors.
Driscoll stated that companies can gain access to U.S. or allied test ranges within 30 days of submitting a request through an online marketplace that launched recently. He highlighted that the current timeline for testing new technologies can take 12 to 18 months, which he considers inadequate for enhancing soldier safety and effectiveness.
The announcement comes amid evolving warfare dynamics globally, influenced by recent conflicts. The Army's move to open test ranges is also a response to the depletion of advanced weapon stockpiles due to ongoing military engagements. The program allows companies to test new systems even without existing military contracts, aiming to encourage innovation and speed up the development of effective weapons.
美国陆军开放测试场给小型公司，以加快武器部署
米歇根州格雷林营（美联社）——美国陆军宣布，将向开发导弹、无人机和其他武器的私人公司开放测试场，以加快其在战场上的采购。陆军部长丹·德里斯科尔强调，此举旨在减少通常阻碍军事承包商的冗长审批流程。
德里斯科尔表示，公司可以通过最近启动的在线市场，在提交请求后30天内获得美国或盟国的测试场访问权限。他指出，目前测试新技术的时间表可能需要12到18个月，他认为这对提升士兵的安全性和有效性而言是不够的。
此公告是在全球战争动态不断演变的背景下发布的，受到近期冲突的影响。陆军开放测试场的举动也是对由于持续军事行动而导致的先进武器库存减少的回应。该计划允许公司在没有现有军事合同的情况下测试新系统，旨在鼓励创新并加快有效武器的开发。