Learn More About YPG

Learn More About YPG!

Basically, YPG is a test facility for the U.S. Army.

Yuma Proving Ground manages testing in three different environmental extremes; desert (Yuma Test Center), tropic (Tropic Regions Test Center), and cold (Cold Regions Test Center). The largest test center is the Yuma Test Center located in Yuma, AZ, at Yuma Proving Ground.

A huge variety of weapon systems and munitions are tested. These include: long range artillery; missile firing aircraft; cargo and personnel parachutes; direct fire weapons; unmanned aerial systems; technologies to defeat roadside bombs; and a great many more.

All the YPG test centers provide range facilities suitable for the individual needs of each test customer. Nearly 100 individual tests are ongoing at any single time. Yuma Proving Ground's sparkling clean air, low humidity, skimpy rainfall-only about three inches per year-and annual average of 350 sunny days, add up to almost perfect testing and training conditions.

Examples of the proving ground's defense contributions are numerous. The AH-64 Apache helicopter underwent all development testing in Yuma, and continues to be a frequent visitor today. Over 100,000 desert testing miles were put on the M-1 Abrams tank during its development cycle, with another 36,000 grueling road miles put on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

Yuma Proving Ground test experts have worked on a seven-days-per-week, round-the-clock basis, to test eight variants of the Stryker armored vehicle since April 2002. Focusing on the vehicle's durability and performance, proving ground testers put 175,000 grueling road miles on the Stryker over gravel roads, pavement, cross-country, and all sorts of rough terrain. This road testing took place to evaluate the engine, transmission, universal joints, and various other mechanical components. The Stryker variants fired well over 120,000 rounds from weapons mounted on the vehicles, including nearly 50,000 120mm projectiles from the Stryker Mortar Carrier.

Nearly all the primary ground weapon systems deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom underwent extensive testing at the proving ground. As the Army's desert environment tester, the proving ground remains an extremely busy place.

The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) has overall responsibility for Army developmental and operational testing and reports directly to the Army chief of staff. A subordinate command of ATEC responsible for the developmental testing of weapon systems and munitions throughout the United States is the Developmental Test Command (DTC). Yuma Proving Ground is an important component of DTC.

Yuma Proving Ground plays a vital role in the economic stability of Southwest Arizona and contributes significantly to the economic health of the entire state. The proving ground is Yuma County's largest single employer of civilians and the county's primary high technology workplace. The proving ground's land mass amounts to about 20 percent of Yuma County.

The economic impact of the proving ground each year amounts to well over $425 million, much of which stays within Yuma County and the State of Arizona. The workforce consists of over 3000 military and civilian employees. Approximately 450 people reside in housing at the proving ground. Nearly all the civilian personnel who work at the proving ground reside in Yuma.

Yuma Proving Ground hosts over 23,000 visitors per year. Additionally, nearly 100 military units from around the nation come to the proving ground each year to conduct realistic training.

Yuma Proving Ground conducts weapon system and munitions testing for all U.S. military services, despite being an Army installation. A small but significant number of tests are conducted each year for friendly foreign nations, such as Britain, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Singapore, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, Israel, and others. The proving ground's long overland firing range (55 miles) and artillery and mortar testing expertise are a particular attraction. Private firms and law enforcement agencies (such as the U.S. Border Patrol and various police departments) have also tested weapons, munitions and other items at the proving ground.

Though test and development is the priority mission of the proving ground, realistic training is worked into the annual schedule. Well over 90 units, mainly from the Army and Marine Corps, visit the proving ground each year for the realism that represents weather and terrain conditions in combat areas overseas. Some of these units number well over 1000 personnel. Nine to 10,000 Soldiers, Marines and others train at the proving ground each year. The Training Exercise Management Office manages training activities at the proving ground.

• DoD - Department of Defense
• ATEC - Army Test and Evaluation Command
• AEC - Army Evaluation Center
• OTC - Operational Test Command
• DTC - Developmental Test Command
• WSMR - White Sands Missile Range
• EPG - Electronic Proving Ground
• ATTC - Aviation Technical Test Center
• DPG - Dugway Proving Ground
• ATC - Aberdeen Test Center
• RTTC - Redstone Technical Test Center
• YPG - Yuma Proving Ground
• YTC - Yuma Test Center
• TRTC - Tropic Regions Test Center
• CRTC - Cold Regions Test Center
• ABN - Airborne
• APFT - Army Physical Fitness Test
• BRM - Basic Rifle Marksmanship
• CTC - Combat Training Center
• DRU - Direct Reporting Unit
• EOD - Explosive Ordnance Disposal
• FOUO - For Official Use Only
• GMC - General Military Course
• HQ - Headquarters
• MP - Military Police
• POW - Prisoner of War
• RPG - Rocket-Propelled Grenade
• SBF - Support by Fire
• TDY - Temporary Duty
• PAO - Public Affairs Office