Breaking Down Barriers: The Army's New Approach to Innovation

The U.S. Army is shaking things up with a new way to get tech to the frontlines. Defense companies can now reserve time at five military ranges, including Dugway Proving Ground in Utah and the Multidomain Training Area range complex in Morocco. This means companies don't need a military contract to test their products.

The Army's goal is to break down barriers and make it easier for companies to innovate and get their products to soldiers quickly. This is a big change from the past, when companies had to fight through bureaucracy just to get to the range. Now, a team of concierges will help companies get scheduled and access the ranges.

The Army is also investing $750 million per year in emerging and nontraditional technology through a new venture-capital-style acquisition program called FUZE. This program aims to speed up the process of fielding new systems and get them to soldiers faster.

The Army's "Right to Integrate" Hackathon Sprint, also known as Project Jailbreak, is another initiative that's making a big impact. This project is designed to fully integrate systems and weapons manufactured by different defense companies, making it easier for them to communicate and work together. More than 50 companies have already participated in this effort, and soldiers downrange are already benefiting from more integrated systems.