10 USC Ch. 321: GENERAL MATTERS
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10 USC Ch. 321: GENERAL MATTERS
From Title 10—ARMED FORCESSubtitle A—General Military LawPART V—ACQUISITIONSubpart F—Major Systems, Major Defense Acquisition Programs, and Weapon Systems Development

CHAPTER 321—GENERAL MATTERS

Sec.
4201.
Major defense acquisition programs: definition; exceptions.
4202.
Authority to increase definitional threshold amounts: major defense acquisition programs; major systems.
4203.
Major subprograms.
4204.
Milestone decision authority.
4205.
Weapon systems for which procurement funding requested in budget: development and procurement schedules.

        

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior chapter 321 "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY", consisting of reserved section 4201, was repealed by Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1841(a)(1)(A), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4242.


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Enhanced Domestic Content Requirement for Major Defense Acquisition Programs

Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VIII, §835, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 338, provided that:

"(a) Assessment Required.—

"(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2023], the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report assessing the domestic source content of procurements carried out in connection with a major defense acquisition program.

"(2) Information repository.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish an information repository for the collection and analysis of information related to domestic source content for products the Secretary deems critical, where such information can be used for continuous data analysis and program management activities.

"(b) Enhanced Domestic Content Requirement.—

"(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of chapter 83 of title 41, United States Code, manufactured articles, materials, or supplies procured in connection with a major defense acquisition program are manufactured substantially all from articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States if the cost of such component articles, materials, or supplies—

"(A) supplied not later than the date of the enactment of this Act, exceeds 60 percent of cost of the manufactured articles, materials, or supplies procured;

"(B) supplied during the period beginning January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2028, exceeds 65 percent of the cost of the manufactured articles, materials, or supplies; and

"(C) supplied on or after January 1, 2029, exceeds 75 percent of the cost of the manufactured articles, materials, or supplies.

"(2) Exclusion for certain manufactured articles.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to manufactured articles that consist wholly or predominantly of iron, steel, or a combination of iron and steel.

"(3) Rulemaking to create a fallback threshold.—

"(A) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue rules to determine the treatment of the lowest price offered for a foreign end product for which 55 percent or more of the component articles, materials, or supplies of such foreign end product are manufactured substantially all from articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States if—

"(i) the application of paragraph (1) results in an unreasonable cost; or

"(ii) no offers are submitted to supply manufactured articles, materials, or supplies manufactured substantially all from articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States.

"(B) Termination.—Rules issued under this paragraph shall cease to have force or effect on January 1, 2031.

"(4) Applicability.—The requirements of this subsection—

"(A) shall apply to contracts entered into on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2023];

"(B) shall not apply to articles manufactured in countries that have executed a reciprocal defense procurement memorandum of understanding with the United States entered into pursuant to section 4851 of title 10, United States Code; and

"(C) shall not apply to a country that is a member of the national technology and industrial base (as defined by section 4801 of title 10, United States Code).

"(c) Major Defense Acquisition Program Defined.—The term 'major defense acquisition program' has the meaning given in section 4201 of title 10, United States Code."

Penalty for Cost Overruns

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, §828, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 910, as amended by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VIII, §825, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1466; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title X, §1081(d), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1986; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, §805(a), (b)(2), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1485, provided that:

"(a) In General.—For fiscal years 2018 and 2019, the Secretary of each military department shall pay a penalty for cost overruns on the covered major defense acquisition programs of the military department.

"(b) Calculation of Penalty.—For the purposes of this section:

"(1) The amount of the cost overrun on any major defense acquisition program or subprogram in a fiscal year is the difference between the current program acquisition unit cost for the program or subprogram and the program acquisition unit cost for the program as shown in the original Baseline Estimate for the program or subprogram, multiplied by the quantity of items to be purchased under the program or subprogram, as reported in the final Selected Acquisition Report for the fiscal year in accordance with section 2432 of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4351].

"(2) Cost overruns for covered major defense acquisition programs that are joint programs of more than one military department shall be allocated among the military departments in percentages determined by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

"(3) The cumulative amount of cost overruns for a military department in a fiscal year is the sum of the cost overruns for all covered major defense acquisition programs of the department in the fiscal year (including cost overruns allocated to the military department in accordance with paragraph (2)).

"(4) The cost overrun penalty for a military department in a fiscal year is three percent of the cumulative amount of cost overruns of the military department in the fiscal year, as determined pursuant to paragraph (3).

"(c) Total Cost Overrun Penalty.—Notwithstanding the amount of a cost overrun penalty determined in subsection (b), the total cost overrun penalty for a military department (including any cost overrun penalty for joint programs of military departments) for a fiscal year may not exceed $50,000,000.

"(d) Transfer of Funds.—

"(1) Reduction of research, development, test, and evaluation or procurement accounts.—Not later than 60 days after the end of each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the Secretary of each military department shall reduce the research, development, test, and evaluation or procurement accounts of the military department by the amount determined under paragraph (2), and remit such amount to the Secretary of Defense.

"(2) Determination of amounts.—The reductions to research, development, test, and evaluation or procurement accounts of a military department referred to in paragraph (1) are the reductions to such accounts necessary to equal, when combined, the cost overrun penalty for the fiscal year for such department determined pursuant to subsection (b)(4).

"(3) Crediting of funds.—Any amount remitted under paragraph (1) shall be credited to the Rapid Prototyping Fund established pursuant to section 804 of this Act [set out as a note preceding section 3201 of this title].

"(e) Covered Programs.—A major defense acquisition program is covered under this section if the original Baseline Estimate was established for such program under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 2435(d) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4214(d)], on or after May 22, 2009 (which is the date of the enactment of the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–23))."

[Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VIII, §825(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1466, which provided that the requirements of section 828 of Pub. L. 114–92, as in effect on the day before Dec. 12, 2017, would continue to apply with respect to fiscal years beginning on or before Oct. 1, 2016, was repealed by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, §805(b)(1), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1485.]

§4201. Major defense acquisition programs: definition; exceptions

(a) Definition.—Except as provided under subsection (b), in this part, the term "major defense acquisition program" means a Department of Defense acquisition program that is not a highly sensitive classified program (as determined by the Secretary of Defense) and—

(1) that is designated by the Secretary of Defense as a major defense acquisition program; or

(2) in the case of a program that is not a program for the acquisition of an automated information system (either a product or a service), that is estimated by the Secretary of Defense to require—

(A) an eventual total expenditure for research, development, test, and evaluation of more than $300,000,000 (based on fiscal year 1990 constant dollars); or

(B) an eventual total expenditure for procurement, including all planned increments or spirals, of more than $1,800,000,000 (based on fiscal year 1990 constant dollars).


(b) Exceptions.—In this part, the term "major defense acquisition program" does not include the following:

(1) An acquisition program or project that is carried out using the rapid fielding or rapid prototyping acquisition pathway under section 804 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note).1

(2) An acquisition program for a defense business system (as defined in section 2222(i)(1) of this title) carried out using the acquisition guidance issued pursuant to section 883(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 2223a note).1

(Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1846(b), (c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4248.)


Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 804 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is section 804 of Pub. L. 114–92, which is set out as a note preceding section 3201 of this title.

Section 883(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is section 883(e) of Pub. L. 114–92, which is set out as a note preceding section 4571 of this title.

Codification

The text of subsec. (a) of section 2430 of this title, which was transferred to this section and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(c)(1), was based on Pub. L. 100–26, §7(b)(2)(A), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 279; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VIII, §817(b)(1), (2), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2455; Pub. L. 111–23, title II, §206(b)(1), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1728; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, §847(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2292; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VIII, §831, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1467.

Amendments

2021Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(c)(1), transferred subsec. (a) of section 2430 of this title to this section, struck out par. (1) designation, inserted subsec. (a) heading, substituted "under subsection (b), in this part" for "under paragraph (2), in this chapter", redesignated par. (2) as subsec. (b) and subpars. (A) and (B) of subsecs. (a) and (b) as pars. (1) and (2) of subsecs. (a) and (b), respectively, inserted subsec. (b) heading, and substituted "In this part" for "In this chapter" in introductory provisions of subsec. (b).

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(c)(2), substituted "to require—" for "to require", inserted subpar. (A) designation before "an eventual total expenditure for research" and subpar. (B) designation before "an eventual total expenditure for procurement" and substituted "dollars); or" for "dollars) or".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(c)(3), in introductory provisions, substituted "include the following:" for "include—", in par. (1), substituted "An" for "an" and period at end for "; or" and in par. (2), substituted "An" for "an".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section and amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as an Effective Date of 2021 Amendment note preceding section 3001 of this title.

1 See References in Text note below.

§4202. Authority to increase definitional threshold amounts: major defense acquisition programs; major systems

(a) Adjustments to Thresholds for Major Defense Acquisition Programs.—

(1) Authority.—The Secretary of Defense may adjust the amounts (and the base fiscal year) provided in section 4201(a)(2) of this title on the basis of Department of Defense escalation rates.

(2) Matters to be considered.—For purposes of section 4201(a)(2) of this title, the Secretary shall consider, as applicable, the following:

(A) The estimated level of resources required to fulfill the relevant joint military requirement, as determined by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council pursuant to section 181 of this title.

(B) The cost estimate referred to in section 4251(a)(6) of this title.

(C) The cost estimate referred to in section 4252(a)(1)(C) of this title.

(D) The cost estimate within a baseline description as required by section 4214 of this title.


(b) Adjustment Authority for Major Systems.—

(1) Authority.—The Secretary of Defense may adjust the amounts and the base fiscal year provided in section 3041(c)(1) of this title on the basis of Department of Defense escalation rates.

(2) Rounding.—An amount, as adjusted under paragraph (1), that is not evenly divisible by $5,000,000 shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $5,000,000. In the case of an amount that is evenly divisible by $2,500,000 but not evenly divisible by $5,000,000, the amount shall be rounded to the next higher multiple of $5,000,000.


(c) Notification to Congressional Committees.—An adjustment under subsection (a) or (b) shall be effective after the Secretary transmits to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a written notification of the adjustment.

(Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1846(b), (d), (e), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4248, 4249.)


Editorial Notes

Codification

The text of subsecs. (b) and (c) of section 2430 of this title, which was transferred to this section, redesignated as pars. (1) and (2) of subsec. (a), respectively, and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(d)(1), (2)(A), was based on Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VIII, §817(b)(3), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2455; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, §1502(a)(1), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 502; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, §1067(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 774; Pub. L. 111–23, title II, §206(b)(2), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1728; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, §1071(f)(18), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3511; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, §1081(a)(38), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1596.

The text of subsec. (c) of section 2302d of this title, which was transferred to this section and redesignated as subsecs. (b) and (c) by Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(e)(1), was based on Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VIII, §805(a)(2), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2605; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, §1067(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 774.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(d)(2)(A), (B), inserted subsec. heading and par. (1) designation and heading before "The Secretary" and substituted "in section 4201(a)(2) of this title" for "in subsection (a)(1)(B)".

Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(d)(1), transferred subsecs. (b) and (c) of section 2430 of this title to this section, redesignated subsec. (b) and subsec. (c) and its pars. (1) to (4) as subsec. (a) and subsec. (a)(2) and its subpars. (A) to (D), respectively, realigned margin of subsec. (a)(2), and struck out second sentence of subsec. (a)(1) as redesignated which read as follows: "An adjustment under this subsection shall be effective after the Secretary transmits a written notification of the adjustment to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives."

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(d)(2)(C)(i), (ii), inserted par. heading before "For purposes of" and substituted "section 4201(a)(2) of this title" for "subsection (a)(1)(B)".

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(d)(2)(C)(iii), substituted "section 4251(a)(6)" for "section 2366a(a)(6)".

Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(d)(2)(C)(iv), substituted "section 4252(a)(1)(C)" for "section 2366b(a)(1)(C)".

Subsec. (a)(2)(D). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(d)(2)(C)(v), substituted "section 4214" for "section 2435".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(e)(2), substituted "Adjustment Authority for Major Systems" for "Adjustment Authority" in subsec. heading, inserted par. headings, substituted "section 3041(c)(1) of this title" for "subsection (a)" in par. (1), and realigned margins of par. (2).

Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(e)(1), transferred subsec. (c) of section 2302d of this title to subsec. (b) of this section and redesignated par. (3) as subsec. (c).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(e)(3), inserted heading and substituted "under subsection (a) or (b)" for "under this subsection" in text.

Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(e)(1)(B), redesignated par. (3) of subsec. (b) as subsec. (c).


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section and amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as an Effective Date of 2021 Amendment note preceding section 3001 of this title.

§4203. Major subprograms

(a) Authority To Designate Major Subprograms as Subject to Acquisition Reporting Requirements.—(1)(A) If the Secretary of Defense determines that a major defense acquisition program requires the delivery of two or more categories of end items which differ significantly from each other in form and function, the Secretary may designate each such category of end items as a major subprogram for the purposes of acquisition reporting under this subpart.

(B) If the Secretary of Defense determines that a major defense acquisition program requires the delivery of two or more increments or blocks, the Secretary may designate each such increment or block as a major subprogram for the purposes of acquisition reporting under this subpart.

(2) The Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees in writing of any proposed designation pursuant to paragraph (1) not less than 30 days before the date such designation takes effect.

(b) Reporting Requirements.—(1) If the Secretary designates a major subprogram of a major defense acquisition program in accordance with subsection (a), Selected Acquisition Reports, unit cost reports, and program baselines under this subpart shall reflect cost, schedule, and performance information—

(A) for the major defense acquisition program as a whole (other than as provided in paragraph (2)); and

(B) for each major subprogram of the major defense acquisition program so designated.


(2) For a major defense acquisition program for which a designation of a major subprogram has been made under subsection (a), unit costs under this subpart shall be submitted in accordance with the definitions in subsection (d).

(c) Requirement to Cover Entire Major Defense Acquisition Program.—If a subprogram of a major defense acquisition program is designated as a major subprogram under subsection (a), all other elements of the major defense acquisition program shall be appropriately organized into one or more subprograms under the major defense acquisition program, each of which subprograms, as so organized, shall be treated as a major subprogram under subsection (a).

(d) Definitions.—Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 4351(a) of this title, in the case of a major defense acquisition program for which the Secretary has designated one or more major subprograms under this section for the purposes of this subpart—

(1) the term "program acquisition unit cost" applies at the level of the subprogram and means the total cost for the development and procurement of, and specific military construction for, the major defense acquisition program that is reasonably allocable to each such major subprogram, divided by the relevant number of fully-configured end items to be produced under such major subprogram;

(2) the term "procurement unit cost" applies at the level of the subprogram and means the total of all funds programmed to be available for obligation for procurement for each such major subprogram, divided by the number of fully-configured end items to be procured under such major subprogram;

(3) the term "major contract", with respect to a designated major subprogram, means each of the six largest prime, associate, or Government furnished equipment contracts under the subprogram that is in excess of $40,000,000 and that is not a firm-fixed price contract; and

(4) the term "life cycle cost", with respect to a designated major subprogram, means all costs of development, procurement, military construction, and operations and support, without regard to funding source or management control.

(Added Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VIII, §811(a)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4520, §2430a; amended Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, §814(a), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4266; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title IX, §912, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1536; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, §850, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2295; renumbered §4203 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1846(g), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4251; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, §1701(o)(6)(B)(ii), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2147.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(g)(2), substituted "this subpart" for "this chapter" wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(g), renumbered section 2430a of this title as this section.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(g)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, §1701(o)(6)(B)(ii), substituted "section 4351(a)" for "section 2432(a)" in introductory provisions.

2016—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 114–328, which directed substitution of "major defense acquisition program requires the delivery of two or more increments or blocks" for "major defense acquisition program to purchase satellites requires the delivery of satellites in two or more increments or blocks" in par. (1)(B), was executed by making the substitution in par. (1)(B) of subsec. (a), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

2011—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 112–81 designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–383 designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, of par. (1), inserted "(other than as provided in paragraph (2))" before semicolon in subpar. (A), and added par. (2).


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–81 applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of Pub. L. 116–283 as enacted, see section 1701(a)(2) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out in a note preceding section 3001 of this title and note below.

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

§4204. Milestone decision authority

(a) Service Acquisition Executive.—The milestone decision authority for a major defense acquisition program reaching Milestone A after October 1, 2016, shall be the service acquisition executive of the military department that is managing the program, unless the Secretary of Defense designates, under subsection (b), another official to serve as the milestone decision authority.

(b) Designation of Alternate Milestone Decision Authority.—The Secretary of Defense may designate an alternate milestone decision authority for a program with respect to which any of the following applies:

(1) Subject to subsection (f), the Secretary determines that the program is addressing a joint requirement.

(2) The Secretary determines that the program is best managed by a Defense Agency.

(3) The program has incurred a unit cost increase greater than the significant cost threshold or critical cost threshold under sections 4371 through 4375 of this title.

(4) The program is critical to a major interagency requirement or technology development effort, or has significant international partner involvement.

(5) The Secretary determines that an alternate official serving as the milestone decision authority will best provide for the program to achieve desired cost, schedule, and performance outcomes.


(c) Reversion to Service Acquisition Executive.—

(1) After designating an alternate milestone decision authority under subsection (b) for a program, the Secretary of Defense may revert the position of milestone decision authority for the program back to the service acquisition executive upon request of the Secretary of the military department concerned. A decision on the request shall be made within 180 days after receipt of the request from the Secretary of the military department concerned.

(2) If the Secretary of Defense denies the request for reversion of the milestone decision authority back to the service acquisition executive, the Secretary shall report to the congressional defense committees on the basis of the Secretary's decision that an alternate official serving as milestone decision authority will best provide for the program to achieve desired cost, schedule, and performance outcomes. No such reversion is authorized after a program has incurred a unit cost increase greater than the significant cost threshold or critical cost threshold under sections 4371 through 4375 of this title, except in exceptional circumstances.


(d) Certifications relating to program requirements and funding.—For each major defense acquisition program, the Secretary of the military department concerned and the Chief of the armed force concerned shall, in each Selected Acquisition Report required under section 4351 of this title

(1) certify that program requirements are stable and funding is adequate to meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives for the program; and

(2) identify and report to the congressional defense committees on any increased risk to the program since the last report.


(e) Documentation and Oversight.—The Secretary of Defense shall review the acquisition oversight process for major defense acquisition programs and shall—

(1) limit outside requirements for documentation to an absolute minimum on those programs where the service acquisition executive of the military department that is managing the program is the milestone decision authority; and

(2) ensure that any policies, procedures, and activities related to oversight efforts conducted outside of the military departments with regard to major defense acquisition programs shall be implemented in a manner that does not unnecessarily increase program costs or impede program schedules.


(f) Limitation on Authority to Designate Alternative MDA for Programs Addressing Joint Requirements.—The authority of the Secretary of Defense to designate an alternative milestone decision authority for a program with respect to which the Secretary determines that the program is addressing a joint requirement, as set forth in subsection (b)(1), shall apply only for a major defense acquisition program that reaches Milestone A after October 1, 2016, and before October 1, 2019.

(Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1846(b), (f)(1)–(7), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4248, 4250, 4251; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, §1701(b)(15)(A), (o)(6)(B)(i), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2134, 2147.)


Editorial Notes

Codification

The text of subsec. (d) of section 2430 of this title, which was transferred to this section, redesignated as subsecs. (a) to (f) and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(1), (5)(B), was based on Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, §825(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, §807(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2261.

Amendments

2021Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(1), transferred subsec. (d) of section 2430 of this title to this section, struck out subsec. designation, and redesignated pars. (1) to (5) as subsecs. (a) to (d), and (f), respectively.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(2), inserted subsec. heading and substituted "under subsection (b)" for "under paragraph (2)".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(3)(A)–(C), inserted subsec. heading, substituted "to which any of the following applies:" for "to which—" in introductory provisions, and redesignated subpars. (A) to (E) as pars. (1) to (5), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(3)(D), (G), substituted "Subject to subsection (f)" for "subject to paragraph (5)" and period for semimcolon at end.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(3)(F), (G), substituted "The Secretary" for "the Secretary" and period for semicolon at end.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(3)(E)–(G), substituted "The program" for "the program", "sections 4371 through 4375" for "section 2433" and period for semicolon at end.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(3)(F), (H), substituted "The program" for "the program" and period at end for "; or".

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(3)(F), substituted "The Secretary" for "the Secretary".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(4), inserted subsec. heading, redesignated subpars. (A) and (B) as pars. (1) and (2), respectively, realigned margins, and substituted "under subsection (b)" for "under paragraph (2)" in par. (1) and "sections 4371 through 4375" for "section 2433" in par. (2).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(5), as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, §1701(o)(6)(B)(i), inserted subsec. heading, struck out subpar. (A) designation before "For each", substituted "under section 4351 of this title—" for "under section 2432 of this title,", inserted par. (1) designation before "certify that", substituted "the program; and" for "the program and", inserted par. (2) designation before "identify and report", and redesignated subpar. (B) as subsec. (e).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(6), as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, §1701(b)(15)(A), inserted subsec. heading, substituted "programs and shall—" for "programs and shall", inserted par. (1) designation before "limit outside requirements", substituted "decision authority; and" for "decision authority and", and inserted par. (2) designation before "ensure that".

Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(5)(B), redesignated subpar. (B) of subsec. (d) as subsec. (e).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(f)(7), inserted subsec. heading and substituted "in subsection (b)(1)" for "in paragraph (2)(A)".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–81 applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of Pub. L. 116–283 as enacted, see section 1701(a)(2) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out in a note preceding section 3001 of this title and Effective Date note below.

Effective Date

Section and amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as an Effective Date of 2021 note preceding section 3001 of this title.

§4205. Weapon systems for which procurement funding requested in budget: development and procurement schedules

(a) The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress each calendar year, not later than 45 days after the President submits the budget to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, budget justification documents regarding development and procurement schedules for each weapon system for which fund authorization is required by section 114(a) of this title, and for which any funds for procurement are requested in that budget. The documents shall include data on operational testing and evaluation for each weapon system for which funds for procurement are requested (other than funds requested only for the procurement of units for operational testing and evaluation, or long lead-time items, or both). A weapon system shall also be included in the annual documents required under this subsection in each year thereafter until procurement of that system has been completed or terminated, or the Secretary of Defense certifies, in writing, that such inclusion would not serve any useful purpose and gives his reasons therefor.

(b) Any documents required to be submitted under subsection (a) shall include detailed and summarized information with respect to each weapon system covered and shall specifically include each of the following:

(1) The development schedule, including estimated annual costs until development is completed.

(2) The planned procurement schedule, including the best estimate of the Secretary of Defense of the annual costs and units to be procured until procurement is completed.

(3) To the extent required by the second sentence of subsection (a), the result of all operational testing and evaluation up to the time of the submission of the documents, or, if operational testing and evaluation has not been conducted, a statement of the reasons therefor and the results of such other testing and evaluation as has been conducted.

(4)(A) The most efficient production rate, the most efficient acquisition rate, and the minimum sustaining rate, consistent with the program priority established for such weapon system by the Secretary concerned.

(B) In this paragraph:

(i) The term "most efficient production rate" means the maximum rate for each budget year at which the weapon system can be produced with existing or planned plant capacity and tooling, with one shift a day running for eight hours a day and five days a week.

(ii) The term "minimum sustaining rate" means the production rate for each budget year that is necessary to keep production lines open while maintaining a base of responsive vendors and suppliers.


(c) In the case of any weapon system for which procurement funds have not been previously requested and for which funds are first requested by the President in any fiscal year after the Budget for that fiscal year has been submitted to Congress, the same documentation requirements shall be applicable to that system in the same manner and to the same extent as if funds had been requested for that system in that budget.

(Added Pub. L. 93–155, title VIII, §803(a), Nov. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 614, §139, §2431; amended Pub. L. 94–106, title VIII, §805, Oct. 7, 1975, 89 Stat. 538; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §511(5), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2920; Pub. L. 97–86, title IX, §909(c), Dec. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 1120; Pub. L. 97–258, §3(b)(1), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, §1405(3), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2621; renumbered §2431 and amended Pub. L. 99–433, title I, §§101(a)(5), 110(d)(12), (g)(6), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 995, 1003, 1004; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XIII, §1314(a)(1), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1175; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIII, §1301(13), title XIV, §1484(f)(3), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1668, 1717; Pub. L. 103–355, title III, §3001, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3327; Pub. L. 104–106, div. D, title XLIII, §4321(b)(18), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 673; renumbered §4205 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1846(h), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4251.)


Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in Pub. L. 92–156, title V, §506, Nov. 17, 1971, 85 Stat. 429, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 93–155, §803(b)(2).

Amendments

2021Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(h)(2), amended section catchline generally. Prior to amendment, section catchline read as follows: "Weapons development and procurement schedules".

Pub. L. 116–283, §1846(h)(1), renumbered section 2431 of this title as this section.

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–106, §4321(b)(18)(A)(i), substituted "Any documents" for "Any report" in first sentence.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 104–106, §4321(b)(18)(A)(ii), substituted "the documents" for "the report".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–106, §4321(b)(18)(B), substituted "documentation" for "reporting".

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–355, §3001(a), substituted "not later than 45 days after" for "at the same time" and "budget justification documents" for "a written report" in first sentence and "documents" for "report" in second and third sentences.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–355, §3001(b)(1), substituted "include each of the following:" for "include—" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 103–355, §3001(b)(2)–(4), capitalized first letter of first word in pars. (1) to (3) and substituted period for semicolon at end of pars. (1) and (2) and period for "; and" at end of par. (3).

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 103–355, §3001(b)(5) amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: "the most efficient production rate and the most efficient acquisition rate consistent with the program priority established for such weapon system by the Secretary concerned."

1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–510, §1484(f)(3), substituted "covered and shall specifically include" for "covered, and specifically include, but not be limited to" in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 101–510, §1301(13), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b), struck out "or (b)" after "under subsection (a)", and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: "The Secretary of Defense shall submit a supplemental report to Congress not less than 30, or more than 90, days before the award of any contract, or the exercise of any option in a contract, for the procurement of any such weapon system (other than procurement of units for operational testing and evaluation, or long lead-time items, or both), unless—

"(1) the contractor or contractors for that system have not yet been selected and the Secretary of Defense determines that the submission of that report would adversely affect the source selection process and notifies Congress in writing, prior to such award, of that determination, stating his reasons therefor; or

"(2) the Secretary of Defense determines that the submission of that report would otherwise adversely affect the vital security interests of the United States and notifies Congress in writing of that determination at least 30 days prior to the award, stating his reasons therefor."

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 101–510, §1301(13)(C), redesignated subsecs. (c) and (d) as (b) and (c), respectively.

1987Pub. L. 100–180 made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 99–433, §101(a)(5). See 1986 Amendment note below.

1986Pub. L. 99–433, §101(a)(5), as amended by Pub. L. 100–180, §1314(a)(1), renumbered section 139 of this title as section 2431.

Pub. L. 99–433, §110(d)(12), substituted "Weapons development and procurement schedules" for "Secretary of Defense: weapons development and procurement schedules for armed forces; reports; supplemental reports" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–433, §110(g)(6), substituted "section 114(a)" for "section 138(a)".

1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–525, §1405(3)(B), substituted "30" for "thirty" and "90" for "ninety" in introductory text.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 98–525, §1405(3)(A), substituted "30" for "thirty".

1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–258 substituted "section 1105 of title 31" for "section 201 of the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921 (31 U.S.C. 11)".

1981—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 97–86 added par. (4).

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–513 substituted "section 201 of the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921 (31 U.S.C. 11)" for "section 11 of title 31".

1975—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–106 substituted "or more than ninety, days before" for "or more than sixty, days before".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

For effective date and applicability of amendment by Pub. L. 104–106, see section 4401 of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 2220 of this title.

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–180 applicable as if included in enactment of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–433, see section 1314(e) of Pub. L. 100–180, set out as a note under section 743 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Transition of Ballistic Missile Defense Programs to Military Departments

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1676(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1772, as amended by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVI, §1679, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2161; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVI, §1643, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4062; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVI, §1663, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2104; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title XVI, §1655, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2950, directed the Secretary of Defense to transfer, not later than Oct. 1, 2023—except that such requirement to transfer would terminate 60 days after the Secretary submits the report under section 1675(b) of Pub. L. 117–81 (135 Stat. 2113)—the acquisition authority and the total obligational authority for each missile defense program that has received Milestone C approval or equivalent approval as of such date from the Missile Defense Agency to a military department, and directed the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than one year after Dec. 12, 2017, a report on the plans for such transition of missile defense programs.

Development of Persistent Space-Based Sensor Architecture

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1683, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1777, as amended by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVI, §1675(a)–(c), (d)(2), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2159, 2160; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVI, §1683, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1782; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVI, §1645(h), formerly §1645(g), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4064, renumbered §1645(h), Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVI, §1662(b)(1), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2103, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, in coordination with the Commander of the Air Force Space Command and the Commander of the United States Strategic Command, beginning fiscal year 2019, to develop and rigorously test a highly reliable and cost-effective persistent space-based sensor architecture capable of supporting the ballistic missile defense system, to ensure that the sensor architecture developed is compatible with efforts of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency relating to space-based sensors for missile defense, to submit to Congress a report on the available options not later than January 31, 2019, to submit to Congress a plan not later than one year after December 12, 2017, and to submit to Congress an update to the plan not later than 90 days after December 20, 2019.

Boost Phase Ballistic Missile Defense

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1685, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1781, as amended by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVI, §1676, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2160, directed the Secretary of Defense to ensure that an effective interim kinetic or directed energy boost phase ballistic missile defense capability would be available for initial operational deployment as soon as practicable, directed the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees, together with the budget submitted to Congress for fiscal year 2019, a plan to achieve such capability, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, beginning fiscal year 2019, to carry out a program to develop kinetic boost phase intercept capabilities, required an independent study on the feasibility of providing an initial or demonstrated boost phase capability using unmanned aerial vehicles and kinetic interceptors, and directed the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees a report on such study not later than July 31, 2019.

Ground-Based Interceptor Capability, Capacity, and Reliability

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1686, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1781, authorized the Secretary of Defense to increase the number of the ground-based interceptors of the United States and to advance missile defense technologies to improve the capability and reliability of those elements of the ballistic missile defense system, and directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 90 days after the date on which the Ballistic Missile Defense Review commenced in 2017 is published, a report on those efforts.

Plan for Development of Space-Based Ballistic Missile Intercept Layer

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1688, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1783, as amended by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVI, §1680, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2161; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVI, §1682, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1782, provided that:

"(a) Development.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall develop a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer to the ballistic missile defense system that is—

"(1) regionally focused;

"(2) capable of providing boost-phase defense; and

"(3) achieves an operational capability at the earliest practicable date.

"(b) Space-based Ballistic Missile Intercept Layer Plan.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 12, 2017], the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a plan to carry out subsection (a) during the 10-year period following the date of the plan. Such plan shall include the following:

"(1) A concept definition phase consisting of multiple awarded contracts to identify feasible solutions consistent with architectural principles, performance goals, and price points established by the Director, such as contracts relating to—

"(A) refined requirements;

"(B) conceptual designs;

"(C) technology readiness assessments;

"(D) critical technical and operational issues;

"(E) cost, schedule, performance estimates; and

"(F) risk reduction plans.

"(2) A technology risk reduction phase consisting of up to three competitively awarded contracts focused on maturing, integrating, and characterizing key technologies, algorithms, components, and subsystems, such as contracts relating to—

"(A) refined concepts and designs;

"(B) engineering trade studies;

"(C) medium-to-high fidelity digital representations of the space-based ballistic missile intercept weapon system; and

"(D) a proposed integration and test sequence that could potentially lead to a live-fire boost phase intercept during fiscal year 2022, if the technology has reached sufficient maturity and is economically viable.

"(3) During the technology risk reduction phase, contractors will define proposed demonstrations to a preliminary design review level prior to a technology development phase down-select.

"(4) A technology development phase consisting of two competitively awarded contracts to mature the preferred space-based ballistic missile intercept weapon system concepts and to potentially conduct a live-fire boost phase intercept fly-off during fiscal year 2022, if the technology has reached sufficient maturity and is economically viable, with brassboard hardware and prototype software on a path to the operational goal.

"(5) A concurrent space-based ballistic missile intercept weapon system fire control test bed activity that incrementally incorporates modeling and simulation elements, real-world data, hardware, algorithms, and systems to evaluate with increasing confidence the performance of evolving designs and concepts of such weapon system from target detection to intercept.

"(6) Any other matters the Director determines appropriate.

"(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—In this section, the term 'appropriate congressional committees' means—

"(1) the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives]; and

"(2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives."

Designation of Department of Defense Senior Official With Principal Responsibility for Directed Energy Weapons

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title II, §219, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2053, as amended by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title II, §215, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1326; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title II, §§212, 237, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1675, 1695; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, §215, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3458, provided that:

"(a) Designation of Senior Official.—

"(1) In general.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall serve as the official with principal responsibility for the development and demonstration of directed energy weapons for the Department.

"(2) Development of strategic plan.—

"(A) In general.—The senior official designated under paragraph (1) shall develop a detailed strategic plan to develop, mature, and transition directed energy technologies to acquisition programs of record.

"(B) Roadmap.—Such strategic plan shall include a strategic roadmap for the development and fielding of directed energy weapons and key enabling capabilities for the Department, identifying and coordinating efforts across military departments to achieve overall joint mission effectiveness.

"(3) Acceleration of development and fielding of directed energy weapons capabilities.—

"(A) In general.—To the degree practicable, the senior official designated under paragraph (1) shall use the flexibility of the policies of the Department in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016], or any successor policies, to accelerate the development and fielding of directed energy capabilities.

"(B) Engagement.—The Secretary shall use the flexibility of the policies of the Department in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016], or any successor policies, to ensure engagement with defense and private industries, research universities, and unaffiliated, nonprofit research institutions.

"(4) Advice for exercises and demonstrations.—The senior official designated under paragraph (1) shall, to the degree practicable, provide technical advice and support to entities in the Department of Defense and the military departments conducting exercises or demonstrations with the purpose of improving the capabilities of or operational viability of technical capabilities supporting directed energy weapons, including supporting military utility assessments of the relevant cost and benefits of directed energy weapon systems.

"(5) Support for development of requirements.—The senior official designated under paragraph (1) shall coordinate with the military departments, Defense Agencies, and the Joint Directed Energy Transition Office to define requirements for directed energy capabilities that address the highest priority warfighting capability gaps of the Department.

"(6) Availability of information.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the senior official designated under paragraph (1) has access to such information on programs and activities of the military departments and other defense agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate to coordinate departmental directed energy efforts.

"(b) Joint Directed Energy Transition Office.—

"(1) Redesignation.—The High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office of the Department of Defense is hereby redesignated as the 'Joint Directed Energy Transition Office' (in this subsection referred to as the 'Office'), and shall report to the official designated under subsection (a)(1).

"(2) Additional functions.—In addition to the functions and duties of the Office in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016], the Office shall assist the senior official designated under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) in carrying out paragraphs (2) through (5) of such subsection.

"(3) Funding.—The Secretary may make available such funds to the Office for basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, prototyping, studies and analyses, and organizational support as the Secretary considers appropriate to support the efficient and effective development of directed energy systems and technologies, including high-powered microwaves, and transition of those systems and technologies into acquisition programs or operational use.

"(c) Prototyping and Demonstration Program.—

"(1) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary, shall establish a program on the prototyping and demonstration of directed energy weapon systems to build and maintain the military superiority of the United States by—

"(A) accelerating, when feasible, the fielding of directed energy weapon prototypes that would help counter technological advantages of potential adversaries of the United States; and

"(B) supporting the military departments, the combatant commanders, and other relevant defense agencies and entities in developing prototypes and demonstrating operational utility of high energy lasers and high powered microwave weapon systems.

"(2) Guidelines.—(A) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 [Dec. 12, 2017], the Under Secretary shall issue guidelines for the operation of the program established under paragraph (1), including the following:

"(i) Criteria required for an application for funding by a military department, defense agency or entity, or a combatant command.

"(ii) The priorities, based on validated requirements or capability gaps, for fielding prototype directed energy weapon system technologies developed by research funding of the Department or industry.

"(iii) Criteria for evaluation of an application for funding or changes to policies or acquisition and business practices by such a department, agency, or command for purposes of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the program.

"(B) Funding for a military department, defense agency, or combatant command under the program established under paragraph (1) may only be available for advanced technology development, prototyping, and demonstrations in which the Department of Defense maintains management of the technical baseline and a primary emphasis on technology transition and evaluating military utility to enhance the likelihood that the particular directed energy weapon system will meet the Department end user's need.

"(3) Applications for funding.—(A) Not less frequently than once each year, the Under Secretary shall solicit from the heads of the military departments, the defense agencies, and the combatant commands applications for funding under the program established under paragraph (1) to be used to enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, or other transaction agreements entered into pursuant to section 2371b of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4022], with appropriate entities for the prototyping or commercialization of technologies.

"(B) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any official of the Department of Defense to provide funding under the program to any congressional earmark as defined pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives or any congressionally directed spending item as defined pursuant to paragraph 5 of rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

"(4) Under secretary defined.—In this subsection, the term 'Under Secretary' means the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in the Under Secretary's capacity as the official with principal responsibility for the development and demonstration of directed energy weapons pursuant to subsection (a)(1).

"(d) Directed Energy Working Group.—

"(1) In general.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the [William M. (Mac) Thornberry] National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year [sic] 2021 [Jan. 1, 2021], the Secretary of Defense shall establish a working group to be known as the 'Directed Energy Working Group'.

"(2) Responsibilities.—The Directed Energy Working Group shall—

"(A) analyze and evaluate the current and planned directed energy programs of each of the military departments;

"(B) make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense—

"(i) describing how memoranda of understanding may be used to coordinate the directed energy activities conducted by the Department of Defense using amounts authorized to be appropriated for research, development, test, and evaluation; and

"(ii) proposing the establishment of specific memoranda of understanding between individual organizations and elements of the Department of Defense to facilitate such coordination;

"(C) identify methods of quickly fielding directed energy capabilities and programs; and

"(D) develop a compendium on the effectiveness of directed energy weapon systems and integrate the compendium into an overall Joint Effectiveness Manual under the guidance from the Joint Technical Coordination Group for Munitions Effectiveness.

"(3) Head of working group.—The head of the Directed Energy Working Group shall be the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering or the designee of the Under Secretary.

"(4) Membership.—The members of the Directed Energy Working Group shall be appointed as follows:

"(A) One member from each military department, appointed by the Secretary of the military department concerned.

"(B) One member appointed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

"(C) One member appointed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

"(D) One member appointed by the Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office of the Department of Defense.

"(E) One member appointed by the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

"(F) One member appointed by the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.

"(G) One member appointed by the Director of the Missile Defense Agency.

"(H) Such other members as may be appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among individuals serving in the Department of Defense.

"(5) Deadline for appointment.—Members of the Directed Energy Working Group shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the establishment of the working group under paragraph (1).

"(6) Briefings to congress.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 [Jan. 1, 2021], and not less frequently than once every 180 days thereafter, the Directed Energy Working Group shall provide to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a briefing on the progress of each directed energy program that is being adopted or fielded by the Department of Defense.

"(7) Termination.—The Directed Energy Working Group established under this subsection shall terminate 4 years after the date of the enactment of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 [Jan. 1, 2021]."

National Missile Defense Policy

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVI, §1681(b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1781, provided that: "Not later than the date on which the President submits to Congress the annual budget request of the President for fiscal year 2021 pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense shall, as the Secretary considers appropriate, redesignate all strategies, policies, programs, and systems under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to reflect that missile defense programs of the United States defend against ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles in all phases of flight."

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, §1681(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2623, as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVI, §1681(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1781; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVI, §1663, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 603, provided that: "It is the policy of the United States—

"(1) to research, develop, test, procure, deploy, and sustain, with funding subject to the annual authorization of appropriations for National Missile Defense, systems that provide effective, layered missile defense capabilities to defeat increasingly complex missile threats in all phases of flight; and

"(2) to rely on nuclear deterrence to address more sophisticated and larger quantity near-peer intercontinental missile threats to the homeland of the United States."

Designation of Certain Acquisition Authority

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, §1684(e), (f), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2627, provided that:

"(e) Designation Required.—

"(1) Authority.—Not later than March 31, 2018, the Secretary of Defense shall designate a military department or Defense Agency with acquisition authority with respect to—

"(A) the capability to defend the homeland from cruise missiles; and

"(B) left-of-launch ballistic missile defeat capability.

"(2) Discretion.—The Secretary may designate a single military department or Defense Agency with the acquisition authority described in paragraph (1) or designate a separate military department or Defense Agency for each function specified in such paragraph.

"(3) Validation.—In making a designation under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include a description of the manner in which the military requirements for such capabilities will be validated.

"(f) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) The term 'Defense Agency' has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(11) of title 10, United States Code.

"(2) The term 'intelligence community' has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)."

Technical Authority for Integrated Air and Missile Defense Activities and Programs

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, §1686(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2628, provided that:

"(1) In general.—The Director of the Missile Defense Agency is the technical authority of the Department of Defense for integrated air and missile defense activities and programs, including joint engineering and integration efforts for such activities and programs, including with respect to defining and controlling the interfaces of such activities and programs and the allocation of technical requirements for such activities and programs.

"(2) Detailees.—

"(A) In carrying out the technical authority under paragraph (1), the Director may seek to have staff detailed to the Missile Defense Agency from the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense and the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization in a number the Director determines necessary in accordance with subparagraph (B).

"(B) In detailing staff under subparagraph (A) to carry out the technical authority under paragraph (1), the total number of staff, including detailees, of the Missile Defense Agency who carry out such authority may not exceed the number that is twice the number of such staff carrying out such authority as of January 1, 2016."

Hypersonic Defense Capability Development

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, §1687, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2629, designated the Director of the Missile Defense Agency as the executive agent for the Department of Defense for the development of a capability by the United States to counter hypersonic boost-glide vehicle capabilities and conventional prompt strike capabilities that may be employed against the United States or its allies and directed the Director to establish a program to develop such hypersonic defense capability by not later than Mar. 31, 2017.

Required Testing by Missile Defense Agency of Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Element of Ballistic Missile Defense System

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, §1689, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2631, as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, §902(97), title XVI, §1684, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1555, 1783; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVI, §1668(d), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2107, provided that:

"(a) Testing Required.—Except as provided in subsection (c), not less frequently than once each fiscal year, the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall administer a flight test of the ground-based midcourse defense element of the ballistic missile defense system. Beginning not later than five years after the date on which the next generation interceptor achieves initial operational capability, the Director shall ensure that such flight tests include the next generation interceptor.

"(b) Requirements.—The Director shall ensure that each test carried out under subsection (a) provides for one or more of the following:

"(1) The validation of technical improvements made to increase system performance and reliability.

"(2) The evaluation of the operational effectiveness of the ground-based midcourse defense element of the ballistic missile defense system.

"(3) The use of threat-representative targets and critical engagement conditions, including the use of threat-representative countermeasures.

"(4) The evaluation of new configurations of interceptors before they are fielded.

"(5) The satisfaction of the 'fly before buy' acquisition approach for new interceptor components or software.

"(6) The evaluation of the interoperability of the ground-based midcourse defense element with other elements of the ballistic missile defense systems.

"(c) Exceptions.—The Director may forgo a test under subsection (a) in a fiscal year under one or more of the following conditions:

"(1) Such a test would jeopardize national security.

"(2) Insufficient time considerations between post-test analysis and subsequent pre-test design.

"(3) Insufficient funding.

"(4) An interceptor is unavailable.

"(5) A target is unavailable or is insufficiently representative of threats.

"(6) The test range or necessary test assets are unavailable.

"(7) Inclement weather.

"(8) Any other condition the Director considers appropriate.

"(d) Certification.—Not later than 45 days after forgoing a test for a condition or conditions under subsection (c)(8), the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a certification setting forth the condition or conditions that caused the test to be forgone under such subsection.

"(e) Report.—Not later than 45 days after forgoing a test for any condition specified in subsection (c), the Director shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the rationale for forgoing the test and a plan to restore an intercept flight test in the Integrated Master Test Plan of the Missile Defense Agency. In the case of a test forgone for a condition or conditions under subsection (c)(8), the report required by this subsection is in addition to the certification required by subsection (d)."

Pilot Program on Loss of Unclassified, Controlled Technical Information

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, §1692, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2636, provided that:

"(a) Pilot Program.—Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016], the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall carry out a pilot program to implement improvements to the data protection options in the programs of the Missile Defense Agency (including the contractors of the Agency), particularly with respect to unclassified, controlled technical information and controlled unclassified information.

"(b) Priority.—In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Director shall give priority to implementing data protection options that are used by the private sector and have been proven successful.

"(c) Duration.—The Director shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) for not more than a 5-year period.

"(d) Notification.—Not later than 30 days before the date on which the Director commences the pilot program under subsection (a), the Director shall notify the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives], the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate of—

"(1) the data protection options that the Director is considering to implement under the pilot program and the potential costs of such options; and

"(2) such option that is the preferred option of the Director.

"(e) Data Protection Options.—In this section, the term 'data protection options' means actions to improve processes, practices, and systems that relate to the safeguarding, hygiene, and data protection of information."

Plan on Full Integration and Exploitation of Overhead Persistent Infrared Capability

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XVI, §1618, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1108, as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVI, §1604, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1723, provided that:

"(a) Plan.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 25, 2015], the Commander of the United States Strategic Command and the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a plan for the integration of overhead persistent infrared capabilities to support the missions specified in subsection (b)(1).

"(b) Elements.—The plan under subsection (a) shall—

"(1) ensure that all overhead persistent infrared capabilities of the United States, including such capabilities that are planned to be developed, are integrated to allow for such capabilities to be exploited to support the requirements of the missions of the Department of Defense relating to—

"(A) strategic and theater missile warning;

"(B) ballistic and cruise missile defense, including with respect to missile tracking, fire control, and kill assessment;

"(C) technical intelligence supporting missile warning;

"(D) battlespace awareness;

"(E) other technical intelligence;

"(F) civil and environmental missions, including with respect to the collection of weather data; and

"(G) battle damage assessments; and

"(2) establish clear benchmarks by which to establish acquisition plans, manning, and budget requirements.

"(c) Annual Determination.—The Secretary of Defense shall include, together with, or not later than 30 days after, the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the budget of the Department of Defense for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2028 (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code), a written determination of how the plan under subsection (a) is being implemented.

"(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—In this section, the term 'appropriate congressional committees' means—

"(1) the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives]; and

"(2) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate."

Integration and Interoperability of Air and Missile Defense Capabilities of the United States

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XVI, §1675, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1131, as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, §902(69), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1551; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, §1081(f)(3), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3875, provided that:

"(a) Interoperability of Missile Defense Systems.—The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the chairman of the Missile Defense Executive Board (pursuant to section 1681(c) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 2162)), acting through the Missile Defense Executive Board, shall ensure the interoperability and integration of the covered air and missile defense capabilities of the United States, including by carrying out operational testing.

"(b) Annual Demonstration.—

"(1) Requirement.—Except as provided by paragraph (2), the Director of the Missile Defense Agency and the Secretary of the Army shall jointly ensure that not less than one intercept or flight test is carried out each year that demonstrates interoperability and integration among the covered air and missile defense capabilities of the United States.

"(2) Waiver.—The Director and the Secretary may waive the requirement in paragraph (1) with respect to an intercept or flight test carried out during the year covered by the waiver if the chairman of the Missile Defense Executive Board—

"(A) determines that such waiver is necessary for such year; and

"(B) submits to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] notification of such waiver, including an explanation for how such waiver will not negatively affect demonstrating the interoperability and integration among the covered air and missile defense capabilities of the United States.

"(c) Definitions.—In this section, the term 'covered air and missile defense capabilities' means Patriot air and missile defense batteries and associated interceptors and systems, Aegis ships and associated ballistic missile interceptors (including Aegis Ashore capability), AN/TPY–2 radars, or terminal high altitude area defense batteries and interceptors."

[Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, §1081(f), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3874, provided that the amendment made by section 1081(f)(3) of Pub. L. 116–283 to section 1675 of Pub. L. 114–92, set out above, is effective as of Dec. 23, 2016, and as if included in Pub. L. 114–92 as enacted.]

Boost Phase Defense System

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XVI, §1680, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1137, directed the Secretary of Defense to develop and field an airborne boost phase defense system by not later than fiscal year 2025, and to submit a report on its efforts to the congressional defense committees not later than 120 days after Nov. 25, 2015.

Development and Deployment of Multiple-Object Kill Vehicle for Missile Defense of the United States Homeland

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XVI, §1681, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1138, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to develop a highly reliable multiple-object kill vehicle for the ground-based midcourse defense system using sound acquisition practices, and to include in the budget justification materials submitted to Congress for fiscal year 2017 a report on the funding profile necessary for the program.

Requirement To Replace Capability Enhancement I Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicles

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XVI, §1682, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1139, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that all remaining ground-based interceptors of the ground-based midcourse defense system that are armed with the capability enhancement I exoatmospheric kill vehicle were replaced with the redesigned exoatmospheric kill vehicle before Sept. 30, 2022.

Additional Missile Defense Sensor Coverage for Protection of United States Homeland

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XVI, §1684, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1140, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to deploy, not later than Dec. 31, 2020, a long-range discrimination radar or other sensor capability to defend the United States from long-range ballistic missile threats from Iran, and to include in the budget justification materials submitted to Congress for fiscal years 2017 to 2020 the plan to carry out such deployment.

Concept Development of Space-Based Missile Defense Layer

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XVI, §1685, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1142, as amended by Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, §1683, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2624, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, in coordination with the Secretary of the Air Force and the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, to commence, not later than 30 days after Nov. 25, 2015, the concept definition of a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer to the ballistic missile defense system, and directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 1 year after Nov. 25, 2015, a plan for developing one or more programs for a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer, and to commence research and development of such programs not later than 60 days after the submittal of the plan.

Development of Requirements To Support Integrated Air and Missile Defense Capabilities

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title XVI, §1687, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1143, provided that:

"(a) In General.—Consistent with the memorandum of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of January 27, 2014, regarding joint integrated air and missile defense, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall oversee the development of warfighter requirements for persistent and survivable capabilities to detect, identify, determine the status, track, and support engagement of strategically important mobile or relocatable assets in all phases of conflict in order to achieve the objective of preventing the effective employment of such assets, including through offensive actions against such assets prior to their use.

"(b) Purpose of Requirements.—The requirements developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be used and updated, as appropriate, for the purpose of informing applicable acquisition programs and systems-of-systems architecture planning that are funded through the Military Intelligence Program, the National Intelligence Program, and non-intelligence programs.

"(c) Supporting Activities.—The Vice Chairman shall also oversee the development of the enabling framework for intelligence support for integrated air and missile defense, including concepts for the integrated operation of multiple systems, and, as appropriate, the development of requirements for capabilities to be acquired to achieve such integrated operations.

"(d) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that new acquisition programs for applicable major systems or capabilities, or for upgrades to existing systems, should not be undertaken until the applicable requirements described in subsections (a) and (c) have been developed and incorporated into programmatic decision-making."

Testing and Assessment of Missile Defense Systems Prior to Production and Deployment

Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title XVI, §1662, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3657, as amended by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1677(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1774, prohibited the Secretary of Defense from making a final production decision for, or from operationally deploying, certain components of the ballistic missile defense system without sufficient and operationally realistic testing.

[For termination, effective Dec. 31, 2021, of reporting provisions in subsecs. (c)(2) and (d)(2) of section 1662 of Pub. L. 113–291, formerly set out above, see section 1061 of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.]

Acquisition Plan for Re-Designed Exo-Atmospheric Kill Vehicle

Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title XVI, §1663, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3658, directed the Secretary of Defense to develop an acquisition plan for the re-design of the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle of the ground-based midcourse defense system, and required the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on such plan.

Additional Missile Defense Radar for the Protection of the United States Homeland

Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title II, §235, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 714, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to deploy a long-range discriminating radar against long-range ballistic missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, directed the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the Secretary was able to deploy additional tracking and discrimination sensor capabilities to defend the United States from future long-range ballistic missile threats from Iran, and required submission to the congressional defense committees of a report on the sensor capabilities of the United States not later than 180 days after Dec. 26, 2013.

Plans To Improve the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System

Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title II, §237, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 717, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to develop options to achieve an improved kill assessment capability for the ground-based midcourse defense system by not later than Dec. 31, 2019, to develop an interim capability for improved hit assessment for the ground-based midcourse defense system that could be integrated into near-term exo-atmospheric kill vehicle upgrades and refurbishment, and to submit a report on such development not later than Apr. 1, 2014, and directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to submit a plan to develop and deploy an upgraded enhanced exo-atmospheric kill vehicle not later than 120 days after Dec. 26, 2013.

Limitation on Availability of Funds for Missile Defense Interceptors in Europe

Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title II, §223(a)–(d), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4168, 4169, prohibited the expenditure of Department of Defense funds for the construction or deployment of missile defense interceptors in Europe until the host nation ratified a missile defense basing agreement and a status of forces agreement authorizing such interceptors and the Secretary of Defense submitted to the congressional defense committees the report on the independent assessment of alternative missile defense systems in Europe required by section 235(c)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Pub. L. 111–84, 123 Stat. 2235).

Limitation on Availability of Funds for Procurement, Construction, and Deployment of Missile Defenses in Europe

Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title II, §233, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4393, as amended by Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, §1075(e)(3), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4374, prohibited the expenditure of Department of Defense funds for a long-range missile defense system in Europe unless the host nation ratified a missile defense basing agreement, and required a further certification to Congress by the Secretary of Defense.

Policy of the United States on Protection of the United States and its Allies Against Iranian Ballistic Missiles

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title II, §229, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 45, set forth as the policy of the United States to develop, along with its allies, a defense against Iranian ballistic missiles and to encourge the NATO alliance to accelerate its efforts to protect NATO territory against the threat of Iranian ballistic missiles.

Policy of the United States on Priorities in the Development, Testing, and Fielding of Missile Defense Capabilities

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title II, §223, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2130, set forth as the policy of the United States that the Department of Defense prioritize the development, testing, fielding, and improvement of effective near-term missile defense capabilities.

Plans for Test and Evaluation of Operational Capability of the Ballistic Missile Defense System

Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title II, §234, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3174, as amended by Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title II, §225, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2130, directed the operational and test components of the Department of Defense to prepare a plan to test the operational capability of each block of the Ballistic Missile Defense System, and directed the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to submit a report to the congressional defense committees.

Integration of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 and Medium Extended Air Defense System Into Ballistic Missile Defense System

Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title II, §232, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1835, designated the Patriot Advanced Capability-3/Medium Extended Air Defense System air and missile defense program as an element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System, prohibited the Secretary of the Army from making any significant change to the baseline technical specifications or the baseline schedule for the PAC–3/MEADS program without the concurrence of the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, and directed the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures for determining the effect of a proposed change to the procurement quantity for the PAC–3/MEADS program and to submit to Congress a report describing such procedures not later than Feb. 1, 2005.

Baselines and Operational Test and Evaluation for Ballistic Missile Defense System

Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title II, §234, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1837, directed the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, to prescribe, not later than Feb. 1, 2005, criteria for operationally realistic testing of fieldable prototypes developed under the ballistic missile defense spiral development program, and to ensure that, not later than Oct. 1, 2005, any test of the ballistic missile defense system was conducted consistent with such criteria.

Provision of Information on Flight Testing of Ground-Based Midcourse National Missile Defense System

Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title II, §224, Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2485, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to provide to the congressional defense committees information on the results of each flight test of the Ground-based Midcourse national missile defense system.

Missile Defense Agency Test Program

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title II, §232(c)–(h), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1037–1039, as amended by Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title II, §225(b)(2)(A), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2486; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title II, §221(b)(2), (c)(2), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1419; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title II, §233, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1836; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title II, §232, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3174; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title II, §224, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2130; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title II, §225, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 41; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title II, §231(a), (b), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4390, 4391; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, §1075(e)(2), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4374; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title II, §232(c), title X, §1062(h), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1340, 1585, directed the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to ensure that critical technology for a missile defense program was successfully demonstrated before it entered into operational service, and directed the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to conduct annual assessments of, and to report on, the program and the ballistic missile defense system.

[For termination, effective Dec. 31, 2021, of annual reporting provisions in section 232(h) of Pub. L. 107–107, formerly set out above, see section 1061 of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.]

Missile Defense Testing Initiative

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title II, §234, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1039, set out requirements for the testing infrastructure of the ballistic missile defense program, including specific requirements for ground-based mid-course interceptor systems for fiscal year 2002.

National Missile Defense Program

Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title II, §231, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1661, provided that the Secretary of Defense was to ensure that the National Missile Defense Program was structured and programmed for funding so as to support a test, in fiscal year 1999, of an integrated national missile defense system that was representative of the national missile defense system architecture that could achieve initial operational capability in fiscal year 2003, and that not later than Feb. 15, 1998, the Secretary was to submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for the development and deployment of a national missile defense system that could achieve initial operational capability in fiscal year 2003.

Enhanced Cooperation Between National Nuclear Security Administration and Missile Defense Agency

Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXI, §3132], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A-455, as amended by Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title II, §225(b)(3), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2486, directed the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Defense to modify the memorandum of understanding entered into under section 3131 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Pub. L. 105–85, formerly set out as a note below) to provide for jointly funded projects.

Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXI, §3131, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 2034, directed the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Defense to enter into a memorandum of understanding to improve and facilitate the use of the expertise of the national laboratories for the ballistic missile defense programs of the Department of Defense.

Ballistic Missile Defense Program

Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title II, subtitle C, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 228–233, as amended by Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title II, §236, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1665; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, §1067(6), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 774; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, §1041(c), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2646, known as the Ballistic Missile Defense Act of 1995, restructured the core theater missile defense program, directed the Secretary of Defense to prepare a plan to develop theater missile defense systems, prohibited the use of Department of Defense funds to implement an agreement between the United States and any independent state of the former Soviet Union that would establish a demarcation between theater missile defense systems and anti-ballistic missile systems or restrict United States theater missile defense systems, and repealed the Missile Defense Act of 1991 (Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title II, part C).

Compliance of Ballistic Missile Defense Systems and Components With ABM Treaty

Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title II, §231, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2699, prohibited the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for the development or testing of anti-ballisitic missile systems or components except as consistent with the ABM Treaty, limited the use of funds appropriated for the Brilliant Eyes program until the Secretary of Defense submitted a report to Congress on the compliance of that program with the ABM Treaty, and directed the Secretary of Defense to review the Navy Upper Tier program to determine its compliance with the ABM Treaty.

Theater Missile Defense Master Plan

Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title II, §235, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1598, directed the Secretary of Defense to maximize the use of existing systems and technologies and promote joint use by the military departments of ballistic missile defense equipment in carrying out the Theater Missile Defense Initiative, to submit to Congress a TMD Master Plan, and to conduct a review of opportunities to streamline the weapon systems acquisition process applicable to the development, testing, and deployment of theater ballistic missile defenses.

Transfer of Follow-On Technology Programs

Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title II, §243, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1605, as amended by Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, §1073(e)(1)(E), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2658; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title II, §225(b)(4)(B), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2486, provided that management and budget responsibility for research and development of any program to develop far-term follow-on technology relating to ballistic missile defense was to be provided through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or the appropriate military department, and directed the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees a report identifying each program the Secretary had transferred from the Missile Defense Agency and the the agency or military department to which each such transfer was made.

Theater Missile Defense Initiative

Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title II, §231, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2354, established the Theater Missile Defense Initiative to carry out all theater and tactical missile defense activities of the Department of Defense, effective 90 days after Oct. 23, 1992.

Limitation on Transfer of Certain Military Technology to Independent States of Former Soviet Union

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title II, §223, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1056, as amended by Pub. L. 103–199, title II, §203(a)(1), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2321, prohibited the transfer of technology developed with funds appropriated for the Ballistic Missile Defense Program to Russia or any other independent state of the former Soviet Union unless the President certified to Congress that such transfer was in the national interest and was to be made for the purpose of maintaining peace.

SDI Architecture To Require Human Decision Making

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title II, §224, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1056, prohibited the Federal Government from funding or otherwise supporting the development of command and control systems for strategic defense in the boost or post-boost phase against ballistic missile threats that would permit such strategic defenses to initiate the directing of damaging or lethal fire except by affirmative human decision at an appropriate level of authority.

Establishment of Federally Funded Research and Development Center To Support SDI Program

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title II, §227, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1057, authorized the Secretary of Defense, using funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for the Strategic Defense Initiative program, to enter into a contract not to be awarded before Oct. 1, 1989, to provide for the establishment and operation of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) to provide independent and objective technical support to the Strategic Defense Initiative program, and provided that no Federal funds could be provided to the new FFRDC after the end of the five-year period beginning on the date of the award of the first contract awarded.

Limitation on Establishment of Federally Funded Research and Development Center for Strategic Defense Initiative Program

Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title II, §213, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3841, prohibited the Secretary of Defense from obligating or expending any funds for the purpose of operating a Federally funded research and development center that was established for the support of the Strategic Defense Initiative Program after Nov. 14, 1986, unless the Secretary submitted to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report with respect to such proposed center and funds were specifically authorized to be appropriated for such purpose in an Act other than an appropriations Act or a continuing resolution.

Annual Report on Ballistic Missile Defense Program

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title II, §231(a), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1059, provided that not later than Mar. 15, 1988 and Mar. 15, 1989, the Secretary of Defense was to transmit to Congress a report on the programs that constitute the Strategic Defense Initiative and on any other program relating to defense against ballistic missiles.

Plans for Management of Technical Data and Computer Capability Improvements

Pub. L. 98–525, title XII, §1252, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2610, directed Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after Oct. 19, 1984, to develop a plan for an improved system for the management of technical data relating to any major system of the Department of Defense and, not later than 5 years after Oct. 19, 1984, to complete implementation of the management plan, directed Comptroller General, not later than 18 months after Oct. 19, 1984, to transmit to Congress a report evaluating the plan developed, and directed Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after Oct. 19, 1984, to transmit to Congress a plan to improve substantially the computer capability of each of the military departments and of the Defense Logistics Agency to store and access rapidly data that is needed for the efficient procurement of supplies.

Consultation With Allies on Strategic Defense Initiative Program

Pub. L. 98–473, title I, §101(h) [title VIII, §8104], Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1904, 1942, conveyed the sense of Congress that the President should consult with other member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Japan, and other appropriate allies concerning the research being conducted in the Strategic Defense Initiative program and that the Secretary of Defense should report the status of such consultations at the time of the submission of annual budget presentation materials for each fiscal year beginning after Sept. 30, 1984.

Antisatellite Weapons Test

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title II, §208, Dec. 4, 1986, 101 Stat. 1048, prohibited the Secretary of Defense, until Oct. 1, 1988, from carrying out a test of the Space Defense System (antisatellite weapon) involving the F–15 launched miniature homing vehicle against an object in space until the President certified to Congress that the Soviet Union had conducted, after Dec. 4, 1987, a test against an object in space of a dedicated antisatellite weapon.

Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title II, §231, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3847, prohibited the Secretary of Defense, until Oct. 1, 1987, from carrying out a test of the Space Defense System (anti-satellite weapon) against an object in space until the President certified to Congress that the Soviet Union had conducted, after Nov. 14, 1986, a test against an object in space of a dedicated anti-satellite weapon.

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior acts:

Pub. L. 99–500, §101(c) [title XI, §1101], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–82, 1783-177, and Pub. L. 99–591, §101(c) [title XI, §1101], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–82, 3341-177.

Pub. L. 99–190, §101(b) [title VIII, §8097], Dec. 19, 1985, 99 Stat. 1185, 1219.


Pub. L. 99–145, title II, §208(a), (b), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 610, prohibited the use of funds to test the miniature homing vehicle (MHV) anti-satellite warhead launched from an F–15 aircraft unless the President made a certification to Congress as provided in section 8100 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1985 (Pub. L. 98–473, title I, §101(h) [title VIII, §8100], formerly set out as a note below), and provided that no more than three such tests could be conducted before Oct. 1, 1986.

Pub. L. 98–473, title I, §101(h) [title VIII, §8100], Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1904, 1941, prohibited the use of funds to test the miniature homing vehicle (MHV) anti-satellite warhead launched from an F–15 aircraft unless the President made a certification to Congress that certain conditions had been satisfied, and provided that no more than three such tests could be conducted during fiscal year 1985.

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior authorization act:

Pub. L. 98–94, title XI, §1235, Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 695; as amended by Pub. L. 98–525, title II, §205, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2509.

East Coast Trident Base and MX Missile System Sites; Use of Funds Appropriated to Department of Defense; Assistance to Nearby Communities To Help Meet Costs of Increased Municipal Services

Pub. L. 96–418, title VIII, §802, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1775, as amended by Pub. L. 97–99, title IX, §904(b), Dec. 23, 1981, 95 Stat. 1382; Pub. L. 98–115, title VIII, §805, Oct. 11, 1983, 97 Stat. 785; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIII, §1322(f), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1672, authorized the Secretary of Defense to assist communities located near MX Missile System sites and the East Coast Trident Base, and the States in which such communities were located, in meeting the increased costs of municipal services and facilities resulting from the construction and operation of the MX Missile System or the East Coast Trident Base.

MX Missile and Basing Mode

Pub. L. 96–342, title II, §202, Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1079, directed the Secretary of Defense to proceed with the development of the MX missile and a Multiple Protective Structure (MPS) basing mode in order to achieve an Initial Operational Capability not later than Dec. 31, 1986.

Development of MX Missile System

Pub. L. 96–29, title II, §202, June 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 79, directed the Secretary of Defense to proceed with the development of the Multiple Protective Structure (MPS) system concurrently with the development of the MX missile, unless and until the Secretary of Defense certified to the Congress that an alternative basing mode was militarily or technologically superior to, and was more cost effective than, the MPS system or the President informed the Congress that in his view the MPS system was not consistent with United States national security interests.

Trident Support Site, Bangor, Washington; Financial Aid to Local Communities; Reports

Pub. L. 93–552, title VI, §608, Dec. 27, 1974, 88 Stat. 1763, authorized the Secretary of Defense to assist communities located near the TRIDENT Support Site in Bangor, Washington, in meeting the increased costs of municipal services and facilities resulting from the construction and operation of the TRIDENT Weapon System, and directed the Secretary to transmit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives semiannual reports on such assistance provided during the preceding six-month period.