The US Army is introducing a new approach to defence testing that is intended to give companies quicker access to military ranges. The objective is to shorten the period between weapon development, testing and eventual deployment.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said firms developing missiles, drones and other military technologies will be able to request access to US and allied test ranges through a new online marketplace. The Army is targeting access within 30 days of a request.
The planned timeline is significantly shorter than the 12-to-18-month period that testing arrangements can sometimes require. Army officials say the initiative is intended to remove barriers that have slowed weapons evaluation and acquisition.
The push comes as recent conflicts have highlighted the need for armed forces to adapt more quickly. The Army is particularly interested in helping smaller defence companies and nontraditional suppliers that may offer lower-cost or rapidly producible technologies.
According to the Army, an early participant in the initiative has already tested a new cruise missile at a missile test range in Morocco. The example demonstrates how the new process could support companies seeking quicker opportunities to evaluate emerging systems.
The Army Test and Evaluation Command maintains a wide network of facilities. 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 serves as a major location for small-drone testing and training and is opening its West Cibola Range for industry activities.
Michigan’s Camp Grayling provides restricted airspace and approximately 200,000 acres of terrain, while Camp Shelby in Mississippi covers more than 134,000 acres and supports multi-domain testing.
By combining faster access procedures with established test infrastructure, the Army hopes to make the development cycle more responsive. The broader goal is to help new technologies move from laboratory and prototype stages toward military evaluation and deployment with fewer administrative delays.
