Sec. 1056. Information operations and engagement technology demonstrations
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It is the sense of Congress that— military information support operations are a critical component of the efforts of the Department of Defense to provide commanders with capabilities to shape the operational environment; military information support operations are integral to armed conflict and therefore the Secretary of Defense has broad latitude to conduct military information support operations; the Secretary of Defense should develop creative and agile concepts, technologies, and strategies across all available media to most effectively reach target audiences, to counter and degrade the ability of adversaries and potential adversaries to persuade, inspire, and recruit inside areas of hostilities or in other areas in direct support of the objectives of commanders; and the Secretary of Defense should request additional funds in future budgets to carry out military information support operations to support the broader efforts of the Government to counter violent extremism.
To support the ability of the Department of Defense to provide innovative operational concepts and technologies to shape the informational environment, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a series of technology demonstrations, subject to the availability of funds for such purpose or to a prior approval reprogramming, to assess innovative new technologies for information operations and information engagement to support the operational and strategic requirements of the commanders of the geographic and functional combatant commands, including the urgent and emergent operational needs and the operational and theater campaign plans of such combatant commanders to further the national security objectives and strategic communications requirements of the United States.
By not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a plan describing how the Department of Defense will execute the technology demonstrations required under subsection (b). Such plan shall include each of the following elements: A general timeline for conducting the technology demonstrations. Clearly defined goals and endstate objectives for the demonstrations, including traceability of such goals to the tactical, operational, or strategic requirements of the combatant commanders.
A process for measuring the performance and effectiveness of the demonstrations. A coordination structure to include participation between the technology development and the operational communities, including potentially joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational partners. The identification of potential technologies to support the tactical, operational, or strategic needs of the combatant commanders. An explanation of how such technologies will support and coordinate with elements of joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational partners.
Upon initiating a technology demonstration under subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees written notice of the demonstration that includes a detailed description of the demonstration, including its purpose, cost, engagement medium, targeted audience, and any other details the Secretary of Defense believes will assist the committees in evaluating the demonstration. The authority to carry out a technology demonstration under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2022.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or alter any authority under which the Department of Defense supports information operations activities within the Department.