The US Army is introducing a new online marketplace intended to accelerate industry access to military test ranges and shorten the path from weapons development to battlefield deployment. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said companies could gain access to US and allied testing facilities within 30 days of submitting a request. The initiative is designed to replace lengthy testing timelines that can extend from 12 to 18 months. By reducing administrative and acquisition barriers, the Army hopes to help companies evaluate missiles, drones, and other emerging technologies more rapidly. The program places particular emphasis on smaller defense firms and nontraditional suppliers as the Pentagon looks for faster and more affordable ways to develop military capabilities. The Army has already reported that a company used the new process to conduct a cruise-missile test at a range in Morocco. The Army Test and Evaluation Command operates a broad network of specialized facilities. These include Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, Camp Grayling in Michigan, and Camp Shelby in Mississippi, each offering different testing environments for defense technologies.
