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 that this initiative aims to reduce the bureaucratic delays in acquiring new weaponry.
- Companies can access U.S. or allied ranges within 30 days of submitting a request through a new online marketplace.
- The program is designed to encourage smaller companies to innovate and produce cost-effective weapons.
- The first company to utilize the program tested a new cruise missile at the Army's missile test range in Morocco.
The U.S. Army announced that it is opening its test ranges to private companies focusing on the development of missiles, drones, and other weaponry. This initiative aims to expedite the acquisition process and reduce the bureaucratic hurdles that often delay military contractors.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll highlighted that companies can gain access to testing facilities in the U.S. or allied nations within 30 days of making a request through a newly launched online marketplace. He noted that the previous process could take 12 to 18 months, which he deemed insufficient for timely innovation.
The program is part of a broader effort to adapt to rapidly changing warfare dynamics and to encourage smaller companies to enter the defense market. The first company to benefit from this initiative successfully tested a new cruise missile at an Army range in Morocco, demonstrating the potential for quicker deployment of new technologies to the battlefield.
美国陆军开放测试场地给小型公司，以期更快将武器送上战场
美国陆军宣布将向专注于导弹、无人机及其他武器开发的私营公司开放测试场地。此举旨在加快获取过程，减少通常延误军事承包商的官僚障碍。
陆军部长丹·德里斯科尔强调，公司可以在通过新推出的在线市场提交请求后的30天内获得美国或盟国的测试设施访问权。他指出，之前的流程可能需要12到18个月，他认为这对于及时创新来说是不够的。
该计划是适应快速变化的战争动态和鼓励小型公司进入国防市场的更广泛努力的一部分。首家受益于此计划的公司在摩洛哥的一处陆军测试场成功测试了一种新型巡航导弹，展示了将新技术更快部署到战场的潜力。