U.S. Army Opens 4 Test Ranges to Defense Firms, Cutting Weapon Trial Waits to 30 Days
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 7
U.S. Army Opens 4 Test Ranges to Defense Firms, Cutting Weapon Trial Waits to 30 Days
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 7
Summary
Four U.S. Army test sites in Utah, Arizona, Mississippi and Michigan are now open to private defense firms, with range access promised within 30 days instead of the usual roughly 18 months.
A new online portal and dedicated "concierge" staff are meant to speed trials of drones, counter-drone systems, long-range fires and low-cost interceptors, even for companies without federal contracts.
Dan Driscoll said the push is meant to remove barriers that have slowed Army modernization for 20 to 30 years, while capacity limits may still affect preferred dates and locations.
The change comes as NATO commanders warn about weapons-production bottlenecks and munition shortages, especially Patriot missiles, sharpened by current conflicts and Ukraine's rapid battlefield innovation.
Can the Army’s new 30-day test access turn drone and interceptor prototypes into fielded weapons fast enough to ease Western missile shortages?
Why is the Army opening elite test ranges to firms without federal contracts, and will concierge access solve bureaucracy or just expose deeper bottlenecks?