The U.S. Army announced a new initiative to expedite weapons development by granting private defense contractors access to military test ranges. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced the program Friday at a testing facility in Michigan, establishing an online marketplace through which companies can request access to ranges within 30 days.
Driscoll emphasized that current approval timelines are inadequate, noting that developers typically wait 12 to 18 months to test new systems. The policy aims to remove institutional barriers accumulated over decades and encourage smaller companies to develop cost-effective military technologies. Five Army ranges will be available to drone and missile manufacturers, even those without existing military contracts, to test new rockets, unmanned systems, and air defense technologies.
The initiative reflects shifting geopolitical circumstances, including rapid drone innovation demonstrated during the Ukraine conflict and expenses incurred from military operations in the Middle East. Driscoll cited observations from the Ukrainian conflict as a key influence on the policy, highlighting how that nation has accelerated weapons production. Recent analysis indicates that U.S. air defense stockpiles have been significantly drawn down, with interceptor systems such as Patriot and THAAD missiles experiencing depletion from ongoing operations.
Covenant Industries became the first company to utilize the program, testing a cruise missile at an Army facility in Morocco and establishing what officials described as a repeatable pathway for other contractors. Pentagon officials have been working to incentivize market entry by smaller defense firms capable of producing effective weapons at reduced costs. Driscoll stated the Army’s commitment to purchasing systems that enhance soldier effectiveness and national security.
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