The U.S. Army announced Friday that it is opening its test ranges to private companies developing weapons, a move intended to accelerate the acquisition of new technologies for the battlefield. The initiative seeks to bypass lengthy bureaucratic processes that can delay the deployment of crucial military equipment.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stated at a military testing range in Michigan that the new effort will significantly cut down the time it takes for companies to get their products tested. Companies can request access to Army ranges in the U.S. and allied nations through an online marketplace, with the goal of receiving approval within 30 days. Driscoll indicated that the current process can take 12 to 18 months, which he deemed insufficient given the rapid evolution of global warfare.
This initiative arrives amid shifting global military landscapes, including the extensive use of drones in conflicts like the one in Ukraine and Iran's drone launches against U.S. forces. The Pentagon is also contending with depleted stockpiles of advanced weaponry, partly due to costs incurred from the conflict with Iran. The Army aims to boost production by encouraging smaller companies to develop cost-effective weapons, with a stated goal of dismantling long-standing barriers to innovation.
"We are inviting industry to get in the mud with our soldiers, to innovate, to invest behind them," Driscoll said. "And then our commitment as an Army is we will purchase the things that will make our soldiers more lethal, more safe, and keep our country safer."
The first company to utilize the program, Covenant Industries, reportedly tested a new cruise missile at an Army test range in Morocco. Company executive Abby Denburg stated the test demonstrated the missile's performance and established a repeatable process for other companies.
The program permits companies working on drones and missiles to use five Army ranges for testing rockets, drones, and anti-drone systems, regardless of whether they currently hold a military contract. This effort comes as a recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies highlighted that recent conflicts have notably diminished U.S. stockpiles of advanced interceptors, such as Patriot and THAAD missiles, which are critical for defending against aerial threats. The analysis suggested this shortfall could compel the U.S. and its allies to manage their air defense resources more cautiously.