Unlike most military installations, the primary mission of U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) is not to train troops for combat, but to test the equipment they use to ensure its functionality.
YPG’s unique mission is matched by its distinctive funding model. About 30% of YPG’s funding comes from an allocation from the Department of the Army to cover overhead expenses.
YPG supports private industry testing without competing with private industry. Many private industry customers choose YPG for its restricted airspace, which is essential for aviation testing that cannot be conducted in unrestricted airspace due to stringent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
Most of the U.S. airspace is unrestricted, and developers of unmanned aircraft need an FAA certificate of authorization (COA) to fly, a process that can take months. Testing in restricted airspace like YPG’s 2,000 square miles allows developers to modify their aircraft without obtaining a new COA for each change, facilitating early-stage development and worst-case scenario testing.
YPG’s extensive infrastructure supports diverse testing needs, from technical and tactical targets to maintenance shops. The spectrum management office ensures access to the necessary radio frequencies, with nearly 600 permanent and over 1,000 temporary frequencies used monthly.
Aviation testing is the bulk of YPG’s private industry work, but ground combat testing also occurs. For example, the world record for the highest altitude artillery shot was set at YPG in 1966. More recently, Green Launch tested an innovative hydrogen and oxygen gas propellant for space launch, with YPG’s support keeping costs manageable.
Learn more about YPG’s testing capabilites here.
Written partially with AI source Mark Schauer dvids