Sec. 842. Small unmanned aircraft system industrial base remediation plan
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Not later than March 1, 2026, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, acting through the Director of the Joint Production Accelerator Cell of the Department of Defense and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a strategy for ensuring that the defense industrial base of the United States can meet requirements for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). In developing the strategy required under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall coordinate with the following officials:
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. The Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The Director of the Defense Innovation Unit. The strategy under subsection
(a)shall include the following elements: An assessment of emerging technologies or manufacturing processes that would support the modernization or expansion of the defense industrial base of the United States to meet requirements for production of sUAS components and finished articles. A plan to prioritize Government funding for the following: Onshoring production for sUAS components. Private manufacturing facilities for sUAS components. Government-owned, contractor-operated manufacturing facilities for sUAS components. Government-owned, Government-operated manufacturing facilities for sUAS components. Not later than March 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into a contract with a federally funded research and development center to conduct a review of the defense industrial base of the United States for sUAS components and finished articles that includes the following: An assessment of the capacity and capability of the existing sUAS industrial base, including the supply base and personnel of such manufacturers, to support the expansion of the sUAS industrial base. The capability and capacity of potential new entrants to the sUAS industrial base, including private entities that might be subsidized by the Federal Government. An assessment of the process for qualifying vendors, including potential new entrants and existing vendors proposing new manufacturing processes. An assessment of the capacity and capability of the sUAS industrial base to support the demands of existing programs. An assessment of the capacity and capability of the sUAS industrial base to support potential future demands of programs. A mapping of programs and potential future sUAS programs for manufacturer throughput. Identification of current and potential shortfalls in critical materials, such as rare earth elements and lithium. A broad assessment of commercial sector, civil sector, and Department of Defense demands on the sUAS industrial base. Not later than September 30, 2026, a federally funded research and development center that enters into a contract under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report on the results of the review conducted under paragraph (1). Not later than 30 days after receipt of the report described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Defense shall submit the report, along with any comments of the Secretary, to the congressional defense committees. The term small unmanned aircraft system components refers to critical components used in the manufacture and operation of unmanned aircraft systems for small unmanned aircraft, as those terms are defined in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.