US Army opens military test ranges to private-sector weapons developers

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The US Army has launched a new program to speed up the testing and procurement of weapons developed by private companies, allowing armaments such as missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to be evaluated on American military test ranges. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said the initiative will give approved companies access to test sites in the United States or allied countries within 30 days of applying, cutting through bureaucratic processes that have previously taken months or years. Officials said the change is intended to shorten development timelines, particularly for drone and missile systems, and to give manufacturers rapid feedback from field conditions. The move comes alongside reports of rising costs for US military operations and declining stocks of certain advanced munitions. Army officials said faster access to testing infrastructure would help accelerate the fielding of new weapons to address those shortages.