Sec. 1080. Pilot program on enhanced use of advanced sensor networks to improve Air Force counter-unmanned aircraft system capabilities for base defense
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Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall carry out a pilot program, to be known as the Enhancing Cooperation for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program , under which the Secretary shall incorporate the use of civilian civil airspace sensor networks into Air Force data processing systems to— improve base defense against small unmanned aircraft systems (in this section referred to as sUAS ); inform the development of counter-unmanned aircraft system capabilities that are suitable for use inside the United States and in the National Airspace System; and enhance cooperation with law enforcement, State and local partners, and other Federal departments and agencies to counter domestic threats.
The Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator, shall select at least two military installations located in the United States at which to conduct the pilot program. In selecting such military installations, the Secretary shall consider the potential for the Air Force to— access advanced civilian airspace sensor networks; leverage public-private partnerships that enable multi-use of airspace awareness capabilities for public safety, defense of critical infrastructure to include Department of Defense installations, and protection of civil aviation; and minimize the potential for negatively affecting civil aircraft operations in the National Airspace System.
The objectives of the pilot program are— to demonstrate the efficacy of shared situational awareness data from civilian sensor networks to military installation defense systems; to provide the Air Force with access to air space awareness data derived from civilian airspace sensor networks to increase the ability of the Air Force to defend bases from the threats posed by sUAS; to determine any authority, capability, and capacity barriers to enhancing cooperation between the Air Force, civilian partners, and other Federal, State, and local government entities to extend the over-the-horizon identification of potential sUAS threats beyond the current range of existing domestic base defense systems; and to improve the data-sharing frameworks for airspace data between the Air Force and various stakeholders for the purpose of base defense.
In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of the Air Force may enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of additional technologies capable of— leveraging commercial or Government off-the-shelf detect-track-defeat systems; integrating and using civilian airspace awareness data to serve as an early warning capability specifically to help identify and monitor non-compliant sUAS; and informing appropriate communication mechanisms between military installations and local law enforcement agencies to report and track non-compliant air vehicles, deter incursions, and foster potential prosecution.
Not later than 90 days after the conclusion of all activities carried out under the pilot program at an installation selected for such program, the Secretary shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing that includes a description of— the manner in which the program was conducted at such installation; and any results achieved under the program at such installation.
The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of the Air Force may request the termination of the pilot program before the date specified in paragraph
(1)if the Secretary— determines that administrative, legal, performance, or other factors indicate the program will not be successful; and submits to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate notice in writing of such determination.