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 battlefield use.
- Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced that companies can gain access to ranges within 30 days of request through a new online marketplace.
- This initiative aims to reduce the time it takes for companies to test new technologies from 12-18 months to a much shorter timeframe.
- The Army's decision is influenced by recent warfare developments and the need to replenish diminished stockpiles of advanced weapons.
- The first company to utilize this program successfully tested a new cruise missile at an Army range in Morocco.
The U.S. Army announced that it is opening up test ranges to private companies developing missiles, drones, and other weapons to facilitate quicker procurement for battlefield use. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stated that this initiative aims to cut down the months or even years of bureaucratic delays typically faced by military contractors.
Driscoll emphasized that companies can now access test ranges in the U.S. or those belonging to allied nations within 30 days of submitting a request through a newly launched online marketplace. This change is part of an effort to adapt to rapidly evolving warfare technologies and to address the depletion of advanced weapon stockpiles.
The first company to take advantage of this new program has successfully tested a cruise missile at an Army range in Morocco. This program allows companies to test new rockets, drones, and anti-drone systems even if they do not currently hold military contracts, thereby encouraging innovation and faster development of military technologies.
美国陆军向小型公司开放测试场以加快武器部署
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，以促进战场武器的快速采购。陆军部长丹·德里斯科尔表示，这一举措旨在减少军事承包商通常面临的几个月甚至几年的官僚延误。
德里斯科尔强调，公司现在可以在提交请求后的30天内获得美国或盟国的测试场访问权，这一变化是为了适应快速发展的战争技术，并解决先进武器库存的减少问题。
第一家利用这一新项目的公司在摩洛哥的陆军测试场成功测试了一种巡航导弹。该项目允许公司在没有现有军事合同的情况下测试新火箭、无人机和反无人机系统，从而鼓励军事技术的创新和更快的发展。