美国陆军宣布向私营企业开放军事测试范围，旨在加速导弹、无人机等武器系统的研发和采购进程[1]。陆军部长丹·德里斯科尔在密歇根州的军事测试场宣布了这一计划，承诺通过在线市场在30天内批准公司访问测试范围的请求[1]。德里斯科尔指出，"一家公司要测试能改善士兵生活的东西，通常需要12至18个月"[1]。
该计划允许无人机和导弹公司使用五个陆军范围进行测试[1]，鼓励小型承包商进入市场开发成本效益高的武器系统。首家参与新计划的公司是Covenant Industries，已在摩洛哥的陆军导弹测试场测试了Anthem导弹[1]。据战略与国际研究中心分析，与伊朗的冲突已耗尽美军现有的爱国者导弹和萨德导弹等先进防空拦截器库存[1]。
The U.S. Army announced a new initiative to accelerate the development and procurement of weapons by opening military test ranges to private companies.[1] Army Secretary Dan Driscoll unveiled the plan at a military testing facility in Michigan, pledging to approve company requests for test range access within 30 days through an online marketplace.[1] The move aims to streamline a process that typically requires 12 to 18 months for approval. As Driscoll stated, "It can take 12 to 18 months for a company that wants to go test the thing that can make a soldier's life better."[1]
The program grants drone and missile companies access to five Army ranges for testing purposes.[1] Covenant Industries became the first company to utilize the new framework, testing its Anthem missile at an Army missile test range.[1] By lowering barriers to entry, the initiative seeks to encourage small contractors to develop cost-effective weapons while addressing changing global warfare dynamics.[1]
The acceleration effort comes amid concerns about weapons stockpile depletion.[1] Analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates that conflicts have depleted the U.S. military's existing inventory of advanced interceptors, including Patriot and THAAD missiles.[1]