Sec. 132. Limitation on retirement of E–3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft
371 words·~2 min read·
/bill/117/hr/7900/eh/section-132·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Secretary of the Air Force may not retire or prepare to retire more than a total of 13 E–3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. Of the aircraft authorized to be retired under paragraph (1)— up to eight aircraft may be retired at any time during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on October 1, 2023; and up to five aircraft may be retired only after the Secretary of the Air Force enters into a contract for the procurement of an E–7 aircraft.
The Secretary of the Air Force shall designate two E–3 aircraft as Primary Training Aircraft Inventory. The Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the airborne warning and control capabilities and capacity of the Air Force. The report under subsection
(a)shall include the following: An assessment of— the airborne warning and control capabilities and capacity of the Air Force as of the date of the report; and the airborne warning and control capabilities and capacity needed to meet the future requirements of the Air Force. Identification of— air moving target indicator and battle management and command and control requirements as of the date of the report; the number of such requirements being fulfilled by the current fleet of 31 E–3 aircraft or other capabilities; and the number of such requirements that would be fulfilled by a reduced fleet of 16 E–3 aircraft. An assessment of whether and to what extent a reduced fleet of 16 E–3 aircraft would affect the level of support provided to the operations of the geographic combatant commands. A comparison of the capabilities of the E–3 aircraft with the capabilities of the E–7 aircraft that is proposed as a replacement for the E–3 aircraft. A comparison of the capacity required to satisfy both current and future air moving target indicator and battle management and command and control requirements. An acquisition strategy for the E–7 aircraft proposed as a replacement for the E–3 aircraft that is— approved by the Secretary of the Air Force; and includes cost and schedule data, plans for training and fielding, and an assessment of possible courses of action to accelerate the proposed acquisition.