H.R. 4435—FY15 NATIONAL DEFENSE 

AUTHORIZATION BILL

SUBCOMMITTEE ON TACTICAL AIR 

AND LAND FORCES

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DIRECTIVE REPORT LANGUAGE ........................................ 14

SUMMARY OF BILL LANGUAGE

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Table Of Contents

DIVISION A—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE I—PROCUREMENT

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

SUBTITLE B—ARMY PROGRAMS

Section 1XX—Limitation on Availability of Funds for Airborne Reconnaissance 

Low Aircraft

SUBTITLE E—DEFENSE-WIDE, JOINT, AND MULTISERVICE MATTERS

Section 1XX—Comptroller General Report on F-35 Aircraft Acquisition 

Program

TITLE II—RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND 

EVALUATION

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

SUBTITLE B—PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS, AND LIMITATIONS

Section 2XX—Limitation on Availability of Funds for Armored Multi-Purpose 

Vehicle Program

TITLE X—GENERAL PROVISIONS

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

SUBTITLE G—OTHER MATTERS

Section 10XX—Unmanned Aircraft Systems and National Airspace

TITLE XV—AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL 

APPROPRIATIONS FOR OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY 

OPERATIONS 

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

SUBTITLE C—LIMITATIONS, REPORTS, AND OTHER MATTERS

Section 15XX—Use of and Transfer of Funds from Joint Improvised Explosive 

Device Defeat Fund

DIVISION A—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE I—PROCUREMENT

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

SUBTITLE B—ARMY PROGRAMS

Section 1XX—Limitation on Availability of Funds for Airborne Reconnaissance Low 

Aircraft

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This section would limit the obligation or expenditure of funds for the 

communications intelligence subsystem of the airborne reconnaissance low program 

until the Secretary of the Army submits a report to the congressional defense 

committees on the plan to integrate such subsystem into the signals intelligence 

modernization plan of the Army.

SUBTITLE E—DEFENSE-WIDE, JOINT, AND MULTISERVICE MATTERS

Section 1XX—Comptroller General Report on F-35 Aircraft Acquisition Program

This section would require the Comptroller General of the United States to 

review the F-35 acquisition program, and to submit a report not later than April 15, 

2015, and each year thereafter until the F-35 acquisition program enters full rate 

production. Each report would include the extent to which the F-35 aircraft 

acquisition program is meeting cost, schedule and performance goals; the progress 

and results of developmental and operational testing; the progress of the 

procurement and manufacturing of the F-35 aircraft; and an assessment of any 

plans or efforts of the Secretary of Defense to improve the efficiency of the 

procurement and manufacturing of the F-35 aircraft.

TITLE II—RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION 

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

SUBTITLE B—PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS, AND LIMITATIONS

Section 2XX—Limitation on Availability of Funds for Armored Multi-Purpose 

Vehicle Program

This section would limit obligation or expenditure of funds to not more than 

80 percent for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program until the 

Secretary of the Army submits a report to the congressional defense committees on 

the Army's plan to eventually replace all M-113 Armored Personal Carriers (APC) 

within Echelons-Above-Brigade (EAB) formations.

The committee notes that in 2007, the Army identified the M-113 APC for 

replacement due to its inadequate survivability and force protection. The committee 

further notes that in the committee report (H. Rept. 112-78) accompanying the 

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 and in the committee 

report (H. Rept. 112-479) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for 

Fiscal Year 2013, the committee provided numerous options for consideration by the 

Army to accelerate the AMPV program. The committee understands that the Army 

has released a Request for Proposal for the Echelons-Below-Brigade (EBB) 

requirement which is focused on survivability shortfalls within the Armor Brigade 

Combat Team. The committee continues to support the AMPV program and expects 

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the Army to conduct the competition in accordance with Federal Acquisition 

Regulations. 

However, the committee is concerned that although the Army's current 

plan addresses a critical shortfall within EBB formations, there is currently no plan 

to address the survivability shortfalls within Echelons-Above-Brigade formations. 

The committee understands that there are approximately 2,000 M-113's within 

existing EAB formations. 

 In addition, the committee notes that on at least one occasion, an Armor 

Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) deployed to the Republic of Iraq with Stryker 

Medical Evacuation Vehicles. Therefore, this section would also require the 

Secretary of the Army to include as part of the report, an assessment for the 

feasibility of incorporating medical wheeled variants within the ABCT.

TITLE X—GENERAL PROVISIONS

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

SUBTITLE G—OTHER MATTERS

Section 10XX—Unmanned Aircraft Systems and National Airspace

This section would allow the Secretary of Defense to enter into a 

memorandum of understanding with a non-Department of Defense entity that is 

engaged in the test range program authorized under section 332(c) of the Federal 

Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-

95). Such entity would be allowed access to non-regulatory special use airspace if 

such access is used by the entity as part of such test range program and does not 

interfere with the activities of the Secretary or otherwise interrupt or delay 

missions or training of the Department of Defense.

TITLE XV—AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS 

FOR OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS

SUBTITLE C—LIMITATIONS, REPORTS, AND OTHER MATTERS

Section 15XX—Use of and Transfer of Funds from Joint Improvised Explosive 

Device Defeat Fund

This section would authorize various transfer authorities, reporting 

requirements, and other associated activities for the Joint Improvised Explosive 

Device (IED) Defeat Fund, as managed by the Joint IED Defeat organization.

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BILL LANGUAGE

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1 SEC. 1ll. øLog 53937¿ LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF 

2 FUNDS FOR AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE 

3 LOW AIRCRAFT. 

4 None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by 

5 this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2015 

6 for aircraft procurement, Army, for the modernization of 

7 the communications intelligence subsystem of airborne re8 connaissance low aircraft may be obligated or expended 

9 until the Secretary of the Army submits to the congres10 sional defense committees a report that—

11 (1) specifies which such subsystem will be used 

12 to modernize such aircraft; 

13 (2) explains how such subsystem was selected; 

14 (3) identifies the alternatives to such subsystem 

15 that the Secretary considered during such selection; 

16 and 

17 (4) details how such subsystem will be inte18 grated into the signals intelligence modernization 

19 plan of the Army.


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1 SEC. 1ll. øLog 53611¿ COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT 

2 ON F–35 AIRCRAFT ACQUISITION PROGRAM. 

3 (a) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than April 15, 

4 2015, and each year thereafter until the F–35 aircraft ac5 quisition program enters into full-rate production, the 

6 Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 

7 the congressional defense committees a report reviewing 

8 such program. 

9 (b) MATTERS INCLUDED.—Each report under sub10 section (a) shall include the following: 

11 (1) The extent to which the F–35 aircraft ac12 quisition program is meeting cost, schedule, and per13 formance goals. 

14 (2) The progress and results of developmental 

15 and operational testing. 

16 (3) The progress of the procurement and manu17 facturing of F–35 aircraft. 

18 (4) An assessment of any plans or efforts of the 

19 Secretary of Defense to improve the efficiency of the 

20 procurement and manufacturing of F–35 aircraft.


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1 SEC. 2ll. øLog 53787¿ LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF 

2 FUNDS FOR ARMORED MULTI-PURPOSE VEHI3 CLE PROGRAM. 

4 (a) LIMITATION.—Of the funds authorized to be ap5 propriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fis6 cal year 2015 for research, development, test, and evalua7 tion, Army, for the armored multi-purpose vehicle pro8 gram, not more than 80 percent may be obligated or ex9 pended until the date on which the Secretary of the Army 

10 submits to the congressional defense committees the re11 port under subsection (b)(1). 

12 (b) REPORT.—

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 

14 2015, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the 

15 congressional defense committee a report on the ar16 mored multi-purpose vehicle program. 

17 (2) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The report under 

18 paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

19 (A) An identification of the existing capa20 bility gaps of the M–113 family of vehicles as21 signed, as of the date of the report, to units 

22 outside of combat brigades. 

23 (B) An identification of the mission roles 

24 that are in common between—


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1 (i) such vehicles assigned to units out2 side of combat brigades; and 

3 (ii) the vehicles examined in the 

4 armor brigade combat team during the ar5 mored multi-purpose vehicle analysis of al6 ternatives. 

7 (C) The estimated timeline and the rough 

8 order of magnitude of funding requirements as9 sociated with complete M–113 family of vehicles 

10 divestiture within the units outside of combat 

11 brigades and the risk associated with delaying 

12 the replacement of such vehicles. 

13 (D) A description of the requirements for 

14 force protection, mobility, and size, weight, 

15 power, and cooling capacity for the mission 

16 roles of M–113 family of vehicles assigned to 

17 units outside of combat brigades. 

18 (E) A discussion of the mission roles of the 

19 M–113 family of vehicles assigned to units out20 side of combat brigades that are comparable to 

21 the mission roles of the M–113 family of vehi22 cles assigned to armor brigade combat teams. 

23 (F) A discussion of whether a one-for-one 

24 replacement of the M–113 family of vehicles asVerDate 0ct 09 2002 15:28 Apr 22, 2014 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 C:\USERS\AJSCIA~1\APPDATA\ROAMING\SOFTQUAD\XMETAL\7.0\GEN\C\LOG537~1.XM

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1 signed to units outside of combat brigades is 

2 likely. 

3 (G) With respect to mission roles, a discus4 sion of any substantive distinctions that exist in 

5 the capabilities of the M–113 family of vehicles 

6 that are needed based on the level of the unit 

7 to which the vehicle is assigned (not including 

8 combat brigades). 

9 (H) A discussion of the relative priority of 

10 fielding among the mission roles. 

11 (I) An assessment for the feasibility of in12 corporating medical wheeled variants within the 

13 armor brigade combat teams.


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1 SEC. 10ll. øLog 53384¿ UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS 

2 AND NATIONAL AIRSPACE. 

3 (a) MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.—Notwith4 standing any other provision of law, the Secretary of De5 fense may enter into a memorandum of understanding 

6 with a non-Department of Defense entity that is engaged 

7 in the test range program authorized under section 332(c) 

8 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 

9 U.S.C. 40101 note) to allow such entity to access non10 regulatory special use airspace if such access—

11 (1) is used by the entity as part of such test 

12 range program; and 

13 (2) does not interfere with the activities of the 

14 Secretary or otherwise interrupt or delay missions or 

15 training of the Department of Defense. 

16 (b) ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES.—The Secretary 

17 shall carry out subsection (a) using the established proce18 dures of the Department of Defense with respect to enter19 ing into a memorandum of understanding. 

20 (c) CONSTRUCTION.—A memorandum of under21 standing entered into under subsection (a) between the 

22 Secretary and a non-Department of Defense entity shall 

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1 ner, proponent, or team member of such entity in the test 

2 range program specified in such subsection.


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1 SEC. 15ll [Log 53097]. USE OF AND TRANSFER OF FUNDS 

2 FROM JOINT IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DE3 VICE DEFEAT FUND. 

4 Subsections (b) and (c) of section 1514 of the John 

5 Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

6 Year 2007 (Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2439), as in 

7 effect before the amendments made by section 1503 of the 

8 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 

9 Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4649), 

10 shall apply to the funds made available to the Department 

11 of Defense for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device De12 feat Fund for fiscal year 2015.


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DIRECTIVE REPORT LANGUAGE

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Table Of Contents

DIVISION A—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE I—PROCUREMENT

AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, ARMY

Items of Special Interest

Armed aerial scout strategy

Army Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircraft

PROCUREMENT OF WEAPONS AND TRACKED COMBAT VEHICLES, ARMY

Items of Special Interest

Transmission industrial base

OTHER PROCUREMENT, ARMY

Items of Special Interest

Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles

Replacement of Enhanced Position Location Reporting system

AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, NAVY

Items of Special Interest

H-1 engine program upgrade

MV-22 carrier onboard delivery

AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE

Items of Special Interest

F-16 modernization

Spare engine requirements and inventory for F-15E and F-16 aircraft

OTHER PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE

Items of Special Interest

Emergency Airfield Lighting System

TITLE II—RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND 

EVALUATION

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION, ARMY

Items of Special Interest

Dual mode tactical missiles

Fabric-based respiratory protective equipment

Improved Turbine Engine Program

Lightweight segmented tactical ladders

Rotorcraft hostile fire protection

Small Airborne Networking Radio program

UH-72 Helicopter health monitoring system

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION, AIR FORCE

Items of Special Interest

EC-130 Compass Call aircraft replacement program

F-35 25mm cannon ammunition

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION, DEFENSE-WIDE

Items of Special Interest

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Expeditionary airfield technology

Vapor compression cooling systems technology

TITLE III—OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

OTHER MATTERS

Army Combat Shirt Fielding Strategy

TITLE X—GENERAL PROVISIONS

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

OTHER MATTERS

Cargo Unmanned Aerial Systems

DIVISION A—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE I—PROCUREMENT

AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, ARMY

Items of Special Interest

Armed aerial scout strategy

The committee notes that because of sequestration and limited resources, 

the Army has announced the Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI) which retires 

older platforms and defers the armed reconnaissance requirement for a replacement 

to the current OH-58 Kiowa series helicopter. The committee understands that as a 

result of the ARI, the Army will utilize AH-64 Apache helicopters, teamed with the 

Shadow Unmanned Aerial Systems, as an interim solution to meet the armed 

reconnaissance mission. However, the committee is concerned that the Army’s plan 

does not address how the Army intends to eventually meet the enduring 

requirement for a manned armed scout helicopter. 

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a 

briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than February 15, 

2015, that includes a description of the interim Apache scout implementation plan, 

as well as the concept for what a follow-on plan and necessary resources would be 

required to replace the interim solution with a platform that fully meets the 

validated requirement.

Army Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircraft

The committee is aware of the Department of the Army’s Aerial 

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) 2020 vision. The committee 

recognizes that there are a variety of platforms and capabilities, both Government 

and contractor owned, that are being transitioned from a wartime environment to a 

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more stable strategic posture, but the committee is concerned that the Army has not 

clearly identified the current and future capacity and capability requirements for 

Aerial ISR. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a 

briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2014, on the 

Army’s Aerial ISR requirements and how those requirements will be addressed in 

the future. 

PROCUREMENT OF WEAPONS AND TRACKED COMBAT VEHICLES, ARMY

Items of Special Interest

Transmission industrial base

The committee notes that the Army commissioned a comprehensive 

assessment of the combat vehicle industrial base to better understand the issues 

and challenges facing the vendor industrial base. The first phase of the assessment, 

which was completed last year, identified combat vehicle transmissions as a 

significant area of concern. The assessment concluded that combat vehicle 

transmissions are unique in that they not only provide power to combat vehicles but 

also control braking and steering. In other words, combat vehicle transmissions are 

entirely different than commercial transmissions, such as those that power the 

military’s tactical wheeled vehicle fleet. Although it has not been provided the 

Army’s final report, the committee understands the assessment and recommends 

mitigation measures for the tracked combat vehicle transmission industrial base.

The committee notes that although the Army has terminated the Ground 

Combat Vehicle program, the Army has several tracked vehicle programs in 

development or production. These include the Armored Multi-purpose Vehicle 

(AMPV) program, the Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program, M88 

recovery vehicle program and major upgrades called "Engineering Change 

Proposals" (ECP) for both the Abrams tank and Bradley fighting vehicle. All of 

these vehicles are eligible for upgraded or improved transmissions. The committee 

understands there are only a few companies that produce transmissions for tracked 

combat vehicles within the United States. Based on the results of the Army’s 

assessment, the committee is concerned about the future viability of transmissions 

for tracked combat vehicles based on low production rates and projected levels of 

funding in the out years that may not support minimum sustaining rates of 

production. The committee believes it may be necessary to consider consolidation of 

production capabilities through a partnership with existing suppliers.

The committee notes the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for 

Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy continues to direct a sector-by-sector, 

tier-by-tier review of the defense industrial base and includes findings from that 

review in the annual Industrial Base Capabilities Report to Congress, which is 

required by section 2504 of title 10, United States Code. However, the last annual 

report, delivered to Congress in October 2013, did not specifically address the 

committee’s concerns related to combat vehicle transmissions. 

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Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a 

report to the congressional defense committees not later than February 15, 2015, on 

the combat vehicle transmission industrial base. The report should not continue to 

summarize the challenges confronting the U.S. tracked vehicle transmission 

industrial base, but should instead detail specific mitigation measures and their 

implementation. Specifically, the report should include the Army’s plans and 

potential funding profile that would be necessary to procure new or improved 

combat vehicle transmissions for the AMPV, PIM, M88 and Abrams and Bradley 

ECP programs, to include the opportunity to exploit new technologies such as 

electric drives. In addition, the report should include an assessment of the potential 

to begin a 2-year pilot combat vehicle transmission program that would address the 

feasibility of consolidating production capabilities through a partnership with 

existing and potential suppliers. 

OTHER PROCUREMENT, ARMY

Items of Special Interest

Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles

The budget request contained $14.7 million for mine-resistant ambushprotected (MRAP) vehicle modifications.

The committee recognizes that mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles 

were rapidly procured to address critical warfighter requirements in the Islamic 

Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Iraq. The committee notes these 

vehicles proved invaluable at protecting military service personnel from improvised 

explosive devices, and saved lives. The committee understands that current MRAP 

vehicle quantities exceed future requirements set forth by the military services. 

The committee recognizes the military services have carefully considered current 

and future requirements, as well as their ability to man, equip, train, and sustain 

MRAP vehicles to determine which vehicles should be retained as part of their 

enduring capability of protected mobility, route clearance, and Explosive Ordnance 

Disposal platforms. The committee understands the military services will retain the 

most capable MRAP vehicles to meet military operational and training needs.

The committee notes that approximately 13,000 excess MRAP vehicles will 

first be offered to other U.S. Government entities and then to potential foreign 

military sales (FMS) or excess defense article (EDA) customers. The committee 

understands that if there are no U.S. Government, FMS, or EDA claimants, the 

vehicles will follow approved disposition procedures for demilitarization. 

The committee believes there may be some operational value in using 

MRAP vehicles as mobile command posts at echelons above brigade. Therefore, the 

committee directs the Chief of Staff of the Army to provide a briefing to the 

congressional defense committees not later than February 13, 2015, on the 

advisability and feasibility of using MRAP vehicles as part of current mobile 

command post modernization strategies. The briefing should include the following:

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(1) An assessment of the potential cost savings, manpower requirement 

reductions, and other associated operations and maintenance savings; 

(2) The status and results of vehicle testing to meet the goals of mobile 

command post modernization;

(3) An assessment of the current status of command vehicle configurations, 

including age of the vehicles, number of vehicles required, manpower requirements 

per command post, and guidance on active fielding timelines for replacement 

vehicles; and

(4) The suitability, cost, and cost avoidance available through adaptive 

reuse of existing vehicles, including the MRAP vehicle.

Replacement of Enhanced Position Location Reporting system

The committee notes that the Army currently has a mix of brigade combat 

teams (BCTs) with different tactical communications architectures, with most Army 

BCTs equipped with the Blue Force Tracker system. Some Army units, and 

elements of the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force still use the Enhanced 

Position Location Reporting system (EPLRS) for certain communications functions. 

In addition, some allied nations also use EPLRS. The committee understands that 

the Army intends to retire the remaining EPLRS systems it uses between fiscal 

years 2014-17. 

Overall, the committee supports the Army's plan to modernize its tactical 

communications network. However, the committee is concerned about the potential 

impact the retirement that the EPLRS system may have on the Army's ability to 

operate effectively in joint and combined operations. Therefore, the committee 

directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on 

Armed Services not later than October 1, 2014, on the details of the Army's plan to 

retire the EPLRS system. The briefing should address any potential joint or 

combined operational issues with other military services and allied nations that 

may result from the Army retiring the system while it remains in use. In addition, 

the briefing should be coordinated with the appropriate Joint Staff offices that

oversee requirements in the area of tactical communications.

AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, NAVY

Items of Special Interest

H-1 engine program upgrade

The budget request contained $45.0 million for H-1 upgrades, but included 

no funding to upgrade the AH-1Z’s legacy T700-401 engine to the T700-401C 

configuration. 

The T700-401C engine is used in the Marine Corps’ AH-1Z and UH-1Y 

helicopters, has unique parts and provides improved power compared to the older 

T700-401 engine. The committee notes that the Marine Corps plans to procure 189 

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AH-1Z helicopters, and understands that 36 of those aircraft are not currently 

planned to be upgraded with T700-401C engines. The committee further 

understands that having 2 different engines for the fleet of 180 AH-1Zs will result

in a reduction of available helicopters since the T700-401 engine is becoming 

increasingly obsolete.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a 

briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than September 19, 

2014, on the Marine Corps’ plan for either upgrading the 36 AH-1Z helicopters to 

the T700-401C engine configuration, or how the Marine Corps plans to incorporate 

the 36 AH-1Z helicopters with the T700-401 engine into the AH-1Z fleet with 

maintenance and logistic support. 

MV-22 carrier onboard delivery

The committee understands that the Department of the Navy has 

conducted an assessment of whether the MV-22 could be used to replace the C-2A 

Greyhound aircraft currently performing the carrier onboard delivery (COD) 

mission for the Department of the Navy. The committee further understands that 

the MV-22’s unique combination of speed, range, and vertical agility creates 

possibilities for transforming the way that carrier onboard delivery is accomplished.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a 

briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 24, 

2014, on the Department of the Navy’s assessment of the MV-22 to perform the 

COD mission, any analysis of alternatives accomplished to replace the C-2A 

aircraft, key performance parameters required of a C-2A replacement aircraft, 

health and status of the C-2A fleet, and the current schedule to procure a C-2A 

Greyhound replacement aircraft. 

AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE

Items of Special Interest

F-16 modernization

The budget request contained $133.1 million in PE 27133F for development 

of F-16 capabilities, but contained no funds for the development of the combat 

avionics programmed extension suite (CAPES), development of the computer 

modular receiver exciter (C-MoRE), or for development of the scalable agile beam 

radar (SABR) upgrade. 

CAPES would upgrade the F-16 blocks 40, 42, 50, and 52 with a new active 

electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, a new electronic warfare system, an 

integrated broadcast system, and a center display unit. The CAPES upgrade would 

increase the F-16’s survivability against emerging threats. C-MoRE is a reliability 

improvement demonstration program for the APG-68(V1) radar of the Air National 

Guard’s F-16 block 30 aircraft fleet that would demonstrate an electronic system 

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upgrade while retaining the radar’s mechanically-scanned array. SABR is an F-16 

radar modernization program that would replace the mechanically-scanned array 

with an AESA radar that would enhance F-16 mission capabilities, provide 

improved electronic protection, and provide a three-fold increase in radar reliability. 

The committee notes that the budget request proposes the cancellation of 

CAPES. While the committee is disappointed that CAPES could not be funded, it 

understands that difficult choices were required due to budget reductions. The 

committee understands that the Department of the Air Force is reviewing future F16 capability upgrade options for fiscal year 2016, and believes that the Department 

of the Air Force may have more affordable options to improve the capability of the 

F-16 fleet. Accordingly, the committee encourages the Department of the Air Force 

to consider both the C-MoRE and the SABR upgrade. 

The committee further notes that the Department of the Air Force’s 976-

aircraft F-16 fleet is 50 percent of the Department’s fighter force, and that the F-16 

block 40, 42, 50, and 52 fleets are likely to remain in the Department’s inventory for 

the next 15 to 20 years. The committee believes that capability upgrades to the F16 fleet are vitally important to address future threats. Therefore, the committee 

directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a report to the congressional 

defense committees not later than February 16, 2015, that describes the plan for 

capability upgrades to the F-16 fleet including costs by year and by appropriation, 

risks of not upgrading the F-16 block 40, 42, 50, and 52 fleets with the CAPES 

upgrade, and the effect of the cancellation of CAPES on the Air National Guard’s F16 fleet.

Spare engine requirements and inventory for F-15E and F-16 aircraft

 The committee is aware that the Air Force has established a requirement 

for 25 additional spare engines for its F-15E and F-16 aircraft fleets, as validated by 

the Propulsion Requirements Study (PRS). The committee believes that, given the 

key role that the F-15 and F-16 aircraft will play in meeting fighter requirements 

until the F-35 aircraft is fielded in sufficient numbers, the extension of the F-15 and 

F-16 fleets will require a reliable base of spare engines. The committee is concerned, 

however, that while the Department of the Air Force has identified this 

requirement, it has not yet taken action to fulfill it. In addition, the committee 

understands that the F-100 production line is currently planned to terminate at the 

end of 2016 based on current orders. 

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a 

briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by October 1, 2014, which 

details the Department of the Air Force's plan to address the unfulfilled 

requirement for F-15 and F-16 spare engines.

OTHER PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE

Items of Special Interest

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Emergency Airfield Lighting System

The committee notes that the Department of the Air Force awarded a 

small-business set-aside contract to develop the Emergency Airfield Light System II 

(EALS II), but subsequently canceled the program after a successful 2013 

operational utility evaluation where only minor deficiencies were found. The 

committee believes that the capability of the EALS II will be a lasting requirement 

and is concerned that the costs associated with a new development effort for a 

system with comparable requirements to EALS II may have significant schedule 

and cost risks. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to 

provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than July 

30, 2014, on the decision not to proceed with EALS II production. The briefing 

should include the Air Force's current plan to meet requirements for emergency 

airfield lighting and the projected funding required through fiscal year 2019.

TITLE II—RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION 

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION, ARMY

Items of Special Interest

Dual mode tactical missiles

The committee continues to recommend that the Department of Defense 

pursue an all-weather, moving target-capable tactical missile that could be 

integrated on different military platforms. While the committee understands that 

certain capabilities, such as a single mode seeker missile, are appropriate when 

prosecuting certain targets, the committee is concerned that current capabilities 

may have difficulties defeating other targets in a cost-efficient and precise manner, 

while also ensuring low collateral damage. 

The committee is particularly interested in capabilities to counter highspeed, erratically maneuvering targets on land and at sea, as well as understanding 

how dual mode missiles could be used in counterterrorism (CT) operations. The 

committee notes the use of dual mode missiles, to include allied missile programs, 

could potentially close existing operational gaps, reduce the risk of collateral 

damage, and may result in cost savings relative to current Tactics, Techniques, and 

Procedures used as part of current direct action CT operations. The committee is 

aware of the recent integration and successful testing of a fully operational dual 

mode missile off an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle system for the United 

Kingdom Ministry of Defense. The committee notes the Royal Air Force has used 

this dual mode missile extensively in overseas contingency operations and have 

reported positive feedback. Further, the committee is also aware that the Secretary 

of the Navy is funding an initial analysis of dual mode missile integration on the 

F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft, and that initial feedback has been positive.

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The committee directs the Secretary of the Defense to provide a briefing to 

the House Committee on Armed Services by February 15, 2015, on the capabilities 

of existing U.S. and allied missile programs which utilize dual mode seeker 

technology. The briefing should also include an assessment of the applicability of 

current dual-mode missiles within the Nation’s counterterrorism efforts, including 

against high-speed, rapidly moving targets on land and sea, as well as an update of 

U.S. and allied efforts to integrate dual-mode missile technologies onto the MQ-9 

Reaper weapon system.

Fabric-based respiratory protective equipment

The committee notes that in the committee report (H. Rept. 113-102) 

accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, the 

committee directed the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to the 

congressional defense committees by February 15, 2014, evaluating the potential 

utility of fabric-based solutions to address soldier and civilian personnel exposure to 

inhaled hazards, including sand, dust, smoke, and pollutants, such as diesel 

exhaust and lead. The committee is concerned that the Secretary of the Army has 

failed to deliver this report to the congressional defense committees. Further, the 

committee understands that no substantive evaluation of potential protective 

technologies has taken place. The committee has been informed by the Program 

Executive Office-Soldier that the proper entity to evaluate fabric-based solutions is 

the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center 

(NSRDEC) in Natick, Massachusetts. The committee understands that NSRDEC 

has technical and scientific expertise in the areas of environmental protection, 

protective clothing, multi-functional textiles, materials, and fibers. 

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to submit a 

report to the congressional defense committees not later than December 1, 2014, 

containing NSRDEC’s evaluation of the capabilities of known fabric-based solutions 

to mitigate soldier exposure to the inhalation of sand, dust, smoke, and pollutants.

Improved Turbine Engine Program

The committee continues to support the budget request for the Improved 

Turbine Engine Program (ITEP). ITEP is a competitive acquisition that is based on 

current research efforts and is designed to develop a more fuel efficient and 

powerful engine for the current Black Hawk and Apache helicopter fleets. The 

committee notes the benefits of improved fuel efficiencies through lower, specific 

fuel consumption that ITEP brings to the battlefield. In addition, the committee 

encourages the Army to consider maintenance and sustainment costs for ITEP and 

specifically, how these calculations would drive affordability of the program. 

The committee believes it is important that ITEP transition from Science 

and Technology to the Preliminary Design phase of Engineering and Manufacturing 

Development as soon as possible. Providing adequate funding for ITEP to maintain 

or accelerate the schedule will reduce risk and ensure continued program 

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advancement and success. The committee encourages the Army to maintain its 

schedule to control development and program costs, mitigate technical risk, validate 

performance, and ensure the warfighter receives the best possible solution.

The committee, however, believes that the ITEP Business Case Analysis 

and Cost Estimate may be outdated and is concerned that it might not sufficiently 

factor in the total fuel savings or maintenance and logistics cost savings associated 

with the engine. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to brief 

the House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2014, on a path to update 

the study.

Lightweight segmented tactical ladders

The committee acknowledges that improved mobility of the soldier 

increases safety and improves mission capability. The committee is aware that the 

tactical ladder is an important piece of equipment that is critical to many missions 

throughout the world. The committee understands that current tactical ladder 

systems are made from metal or fiberglass, weigh 40 pounds or more, and are often 

cumbersome to transport, especially on foot. The committee is also aware there may 

be commercially available, lightweight carbon fiber composite ladders that reduce 

ladder weight load to 11 pounds or less, while maintaining the strength and 

durability of heavier ladders. The committee also notes that current telescoping 

and foldout tactical ladders require a single soldier to carry the entire load, 

whereas a segmented ladder provides the option for weight distribution among 

members a group to improving portability.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a 

briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 31, 

2014, on the potential benefits of lightweight segmented tactical ladders. The 

briefing should include an overview of the current military inventory and a review 

of available carbon fiber commercial ladder options that may reduce weight and 

provide additional flexibility to soldiers.

Rotorcraft hostile fire protection

The committee is encouraged by the continued effort of the Army and other 

military services to develop a hostile fire detection and defeat system that will 

function in the harsh environments produced by rotorcraft operations. In the past, 

hostile fire detection systems for rotorcraft have been limited to acoustic-based 

technologies even though rotor noise, wind noise and echoing off of topography 

restricts the system's accuracy. The committee wants to ensure that the Army is 

considering advanced technologies, like radar, that will pinpoint and integrate the 

location of hostile fire into the aircraft's defeat systems for engagement of incoming 

projectiles. Therefore, the committee directs Secretary of the Army to submit a 

report to the congressional defense committees by February 9, 2015, that details the 

Army's efforts to potentially implement a radar, ultra violet and infrared based 

hostile fire detection and defeat system into existing rotorcraft platforms.

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Small Airborne Networking Radio program

The budget request contained no funding for the Small Airborne 

Networking Radio (SANR).

The committee is aware that the Army has deferred the SANR program 

indefinitely while moving forward with the less ambitious Small Airborne Link-16 

Terminal. The committee is concerned regarding the lack of information from the 

Army on the future of the SANR program and believes that full integration of the 

soldier radio waveform, originally intended to be provided by the SANR program, 

into Army airborne platforms will be essential in the future. 

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a 

briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than December 1, 

2014, with an update on the status of the SANR program.

UH-72 Helicopter health monitoring system

The committee is aware that the UH-72 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is 

not currently equipped with a health monitoring system. However, the committee 

has been informed that the commercial variant of the UH-72, the EC-145, is 

currently being outfitted with a Next Generation Health Monitoring System 

(NGHMS). 

The committee understands that a NGHMS could provide total aircraft 

monitoring and diagnostics of mechanical and electrical systems within a 

lightweight distributed architecture consisting of miniature sensors that contain 

processing and analysis functions operating with non-proprietary data protocols in a

secure cloud management infrastructure. NGHMS maintenance intelligence could 

provide early warning for failing systems that may reduce costly emergency 

maintenance, improving UH-72 maintenance schedules and fleet readiness.

Therefore, the committee encourages Army Program Executive Officer 

Aviation and Program Manager Utility Helicopter, to engage in a demonstration of 

NGHMS on the UH-72. In addition, the committee directs the Secretary of the 

Army to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by February 15, 

2015, that describes the potential for integrating and demonstrating NGHMS on 

the UH-72 platform. However, the committee expects that if the Army makes the 

decision to proceed with a program of record that it will be done using full and open 

competition in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations.

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION, AIR FORCE

Items of Special Interest

EC-130 Compass Call aircraft replacement program

The committee notes that the current fleet of EC-130H "Compass Call" 

aircraft are the Air Force's only wide-area, airborne Command and Control 

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Warfare/Information Operations weapon system, and that the Air Force plans to 

retire seven Compass Call aircraft in fiscal year 2016. In addition, the committee 

understands that the Air Force is conducting an analysis of alternatives (AOA) on a 

follow-on capability to replace the current Compass Call aircraft. The committee 

directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee 

on Armed Services not later than June 1, 2015, on the status and content of the 

AOA.

F-35 25mm cannon ammunition

The committee is concerned about the Air Force's plans for evaluating and 

fielding 25mm cannon ammunition for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Specifically, 

the committee is concerned about the possibility of a sole-source, foreign-produced 

solution for some types of 25mm ammunition, potentially at the exclusion of any 

alternative North American National Technology Industrial Base offerings. 

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing 

to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than August 1, 2014, on the 

Air Force's plans to evaluate, test, and field 25mm cannon ammunition for the Air 

Force's F-35 fleet.

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION, DEFENSE-WIDE

Items of Special Interest

Expeditionary airfield technology

The committee understands that Expeditionary Airfields (EAF) are used by 

all the military services to support forward deployed air operations, and that EAFs 

have the capability to support all types of aircraft from all the military services in 

full spectrum operations. The committee understands the military services may 

require new EAF technology, an investment that could be critical to enhancing 

forward deployed military readiness in an expeditionary environment. Therefore, 

the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, 

and Logistics to provide a report to the congressional defense committees not later 

than February 15, 2015, on the following:

(1) The need for expeditionary airfields in the ongoing threat environment;

(2) The capacity of existing EAF technology to support additional air assets;

(3) The efficacy of expeditionary airfields in mobilization and 

demobilization in theater; and

(4) The status of development of new matting technology that can support 

additional weight and accommodate increased thermal load and engine blast from 

vertical lift aircraft. 

Vapor compression cooling systems technology

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The committee notes that the majority of Department of Defense electronic 

systems intended for field use in harsh environments use thermoelectric cooling 

technology and that this method of cooling is often required in Department of 

Defense requests for proposals. The committee also notes that vapor compression 

electronic cooling technology may provide cooling systems that are smaller, more 

energy efficient, cost effective and reliable than the legacy systems. 

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a 

report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 

Representatives not later than June 1, 2015, addressing where vapor compression 

thermal management systems may best be used in remote or mobile applications to 

cool electronics. The report should include, at a minimum, the process used to 

identify specific programs where these thermal management systems could be 

appropriate and examples of programs using deployed electronics that have 

effectively used vapor compression thermal management systems. 

TITLE III—OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

OTHER MATTERS

Army Combat Shirt Fielding Strategy

The committee notes the Army Combat Shirt (ACS) is a field-tested and 

Army-authorized combat shirt approved for combat operations. The ACS is worn, in 

most cases, as the base layer for the Army's interceptor body armor system, and 

provides soldiers with a highly breathable, moisture wicking clothing option with a 

flame resistance capability.

The committee commends the Army's efforts to develop and field high 

performance flame resistant clothing to deploying soldiers through the rapid 

fielding initiative. The committee also notes that the ACS remains coded for 

wartime use only. The committee believes the same high performance and flame 

resistant protection capabilities provided by the ACS in combat operations could 

also be applied for domestic training and field exercises in the United States. 

The committee directs the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the 

Chief of Staff of the Army, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed 

Services by October 1, 2014, on steps being taken to evaluate the ACS and other 

flame resistant combat uniforms items to desribe (a) the near-term policy for 

authorizing use in appropriate field exercises and training scenarios at unit 

commander’s discretion; and (b) the advisability and feasibility of implementing a 

long-term fielding plan for incorporating the ACS and other flame resistant combat 

uniforms as organizational equipment in appropriate units and in sizes and designs 

specific to female soldiers.

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TITLE X—GENERAL PROVISIONS

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

OTHER MATTERS

Cargo Unmanned Aerial Systems

The committee is aware of ongoing efforts to develop and demonstrate cargo 

unmanned aerial systems to support logistics, sustainment, and re-supply missions 

in intra-theater operations where the use of high-value manned aircraft or ground 

convoys to resupply troops is uneconomical, dangerous or accomplished with 

difficulty. The committee is also aware that since December 2011, the Department 

of Defense has been conducting a Military User Assessment (MUA) of unmanned 

cargo helicopters for supply missions in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and 

that this MUA was the result of a merit based competitive selection. However, the 

committee is concerned that a Department of Defense program of record and 

associated funding has not been established to transition this advanced 

demonstration program into a fielded program of record. Therefore, the committee 

encourages the Department to implement a program of record for this unmanned 

cargo helicopter system as part of the fiscal year 2016 budget submission. In 

addition, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the 

House Committee on Armed Services not later than October 1, 2014, on its plans to 

potentially create cargo unmanned aerial systems programs of record.

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