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 and drones to expedite procurement for the battlefield.
- Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced that companies can access ranges within 30 days of making a request through a new online marketplace.
- The initiative aims to reduce the lengthy approval process that can take 12 to 18 months for testing new military technologies.
- This move is partly influenced by observations from the Ukraine conflict and the need to replenish U.S. weapon stockpiles diminished by ongoing military engagements.
CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. (AP) — The U.S. Army announced it is opening test ranges to private companies developing missiles, drones, and other weapons to expedite their procurement for battlefield use. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stated that this effort will cut through the red tape that typically delays military contractors for months or even years.
Driscoll emphasized that companies will be granted access to U.S. or allied ranges within 30 days of submitting a request through a new online marketplace that launched recently. He noted that the Army aims to make the testing process more efficient to enhance soldier safety and effectiveness.
The initiative comes amid evolving warfare dynamics globally, with influences from recent conflicts such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East. The Army is also responding to the depletion of advanced weapon stockpiles, which has raised concerns about U.S. military readiness in the face of ongoing threats.
美国陆军向小型公司开放测试场，以期更快将武器送上战场
美国格雷林营（AP）——美国陆军宣布，向开发导弹、无人机和其他武器的私营公司开放测试场，以加快其战场采购。陆军部长丹·德里斯科尔表示，这一举措将打破通常会延误军事承包商数月甚至数年的繁琐流程。
德里斯科尔强调，公司在提交请求后，将在30天内获得访问美国或盟友测试场的权限，新的在线市场最近已上线。他指出，陆军旨在提高测试过程的效率，以增强士兵的安全性和作战能力。
这一举措是在全球战争动态不断变化的背景下提出的，受到乌克兰和中东等近期冲突的影响。陆军还在应对先进武器库存的减少，这引发了人们对美国军事准备状态的担忧。