The US Army is streamlining access to military test ranges for defense companies as it seeks to accelerate the transition of new weapons from development to operational deployment. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said companies developing missiles, drones, and other weapon systems will be able to request access to US and allied testing facilities through a new online marketplace, with access targeted within 30 days, according to the Boston Herald. The initiative aims to reduce testing timelines that can otherwise extend to 12–18 months. Driscoll said the Army intends to eliminate acquisition and evaluation barriers that have delayed the introduction of new capabilities, particularly as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated the need for faster weapons development. The program also places emphasis on smaller and nontraditional defense companies as the Pentagon seeks to expand its industrial base and develop more affordable, rapidly producible weapons. The US Army said one of the first companies to use the system has already tested a new cruise missile at an Army missile test range in Morocco. The Army Test and Evaluation Command operates a broad network of facilities supporting different military systems. Dugway Proving Ground in Utah covers more than 800,000 acres and includes a long-range fires test area extending up to 100 kilometers. Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, the Pentagon’s primary test and training facility for small drones, is making its West Cibola Range available for dedicated industry use. Camp Grayling in Michigan provides restricted airspace and approximately 200,000 acres of varied terrain, while Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Mississippi covers more than 134,000 acres and supports multidomain testing and training.
