Sec. 1685. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE-BASED MISSILE DEFENSE LAYER

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## SEC. 1685 CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE-BASED MISSILE DEFENSE LAYER ###

(a)In general Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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, shall commence the concept definition of a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer to the ballistic missile defense system that provides— ####

(1)a boost-phase layer for missile defense; or ####

(2)additional defensive options against direct ascent anti-satellite weapons, hypersonic glide vehicles, and maneuvering reentry vehicles. ###

(b)Elements The activities carried out under subsection

(a)shall include, at a minimum, the following: ####

(1)Draft operation concepts for how a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer would function in the context of a multi-layer missile defense architecture. ####

(2)An assessment of how such a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer could contribute to the defense of the United States against intercontinental ballistic missiles with varying degrees of effectiveness. ####

(3)An assessment of the required architecture and components (including hardware, software, and related command and control systems) and the maturity of critical technologies necessary to make such a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer operational. ####

(4)An assessment of how such a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer could protect the satellites of the United States against adversary anti-satellite weapons. ####

(5)An assessment of the effort required to integrate and make interoperable such a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer with the ground-based missile defense system. ####

(6)Any other matters the Director of the Missile Defense Agency considers appropriate. ###

(c)Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes— ####

(1)the findings of the concept development required by subsection (a); ####

(2)a plan for developing one or more programs of record for a space-based ballistic missile intercept layer, including estimates of the appropriate identifiable costs of each such potential program of record for each fiscal year over the five-fiscal-year period beginning with the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the report is submitted, assuming such potential program of record is technically feasible and could be deployed by December 31, 2027; and ####

(3)the views of the Director regarding such findings and plan. ###

(d)Commencement of RDT&E Not later than 60 days after the submittal of the report required by subsection (c), the Director may commence coordination and activities associated with research, development, test, and evaluation on the programs described in subsection (c)(2).