History
The roots of the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center trace back to World War I, when the U.S. Army needed a larger, and less congested testing ground for artillery. This search led Colonel Colden L. Ruggles to the fertile farmlands of northern Chesapeake Bay.
Following two Presidential Proclamations and an Act of Congress, the land was acquired in late 1917. Testing was moved from Sandy Hook, New Jersey to what is now Aberdeen Proving Ground. The very first test shot was fired during a blinding snowstorm on January 2nd, 1918, marking the birth of a legacy in military testing and development.
First Testing Shot Fired
The Proof Department is open!
The testing mission of the Proof Department was to ensure reliability and safety of munitions and weaponry for Soldiers.
A mission that is still carried out today.
Proof Center
The U.S. was thrust into World War II. Proof Department’s workload and importance grew. With the expanded mission, the Proof Department became its own entity, called the Proof Center.
Ordnance Research and Development Center
After the end of World War II, the Proof center was reorganized as the Ordnance Research and Development Center (ORDC), which was divided into three tenants: Development and Proof Services, the Ballistic Research Laboratory, and the Aberdeen Ordnance Depot.
Development and Proof Services (D&PS)
D&PS became the central hub for testing, carrying forward the previous mission with a broader scope.
Material Testing Directorate (MTD)
Cold war era, again, changed the technological demands and led to further evolution. Proof Services was re-formed into the Material Testing Directorate (MTD), aligning its mission with the newly formed Test and Evaluation Command (TECOM). MTD performed engineering and production tests on Army ordnance and materiel, reflecting increasingly complex needs of the modern battlefield.
U.S. Army Combat Systems Test Activity
MTD became U.S. Army Combat Systems Test Activity (CSTA) – a change that signified a renewed focus on testing sophisticated technologies, precision in assessing material performance, and new testing demands.
U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center
As capabilities, ranges, and workload expanded, CSTA was redesignated as the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center – a link to history and the growing mission while staying focused on the warfighter – their ultimate customer.
PARTNER WITH US
Training, full lifecycle system testing and range support services are available at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center. Request for support should be submitted as early as the requirement is known to leave ample time to plan, coordinate, and schedule resources as well as ensure all required safety, security and environmental concerns have been addressed before testing begins.
To request test services, please click the following link to complete a Request for Test Services (RFTS) or Request for ATEC Support (RFAS): https://atec.army.mil/home/rfts/