I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6245 

To require a review of the system used by the Department of Defense 

for categorizing unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 13, 2021 

Mr. BACON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To require a review of the system used by the Department 

of Defense for categorizing unmanned aircraft systems, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Unmanned Aircraft 

5 Systems Review Act of 2021’’. 

6 SEC. 2. REQUIRED REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

7 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS CAT8 EGORIZATION. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary of Defense 

10 for Acquisition and Sustainment shall initiate a process— 


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1 (1) to review the system used by the Depart2 ment of Defense for categorizing unmanned aircraft 

3 systems, as described in Joint Publication 3–30 ti4 tled ‘‘Joint Air Operations’’; and 

5 (2) to determine whether modifications should 

6 be made in the Department of Defense grouping of 

7 unmanned aerial systems into five broad categories, 

8 as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

9 (b) REQUIRED ELEMENTS FOR REVISION.—If the 

10 Under Secretary determines under subsection (a) that the 

11 characteristics associated with any of the five categories 

12 of unmanned aircraft systems should be revised, the 

13 Under Secretary shall consider the effect a revision would 

14 have on— 

15 (1) the future capability and employment needs 

16 to support current and emerging warfighting con17 cepts; 

18 (2) advanced systems and technologies available 

19 in the current commercial marketplace; 

20 (3) the rapid fielding of unmanned aircraft sys21 tems technology; and 

22 (4) the integration of unmanned aircraft sys23 tems into the National Airspace System. 


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1 (c) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying 

2 out the review required under subsection (a), the Under 

3 Secretary shall consult with— 

4 (1) the Secretary of each of the military depart5 ments; 

6 (2) the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; 

7 (3) the Secretary of State; and 

8 (4) the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 

9 Administration. 

10 (d) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than October 1, 

11 2022, the Under Secretary shall submit to the congres12 sional defense committees, the Committee on Transpor13 tation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Foreign 

14 Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Com15 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 

16 Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report 

17 that includes a description of— 

18 (1) the results of the review initiated under 

19 subsection (a); 

20 (2) any revisions planned to the system used by 

21 the Department of Defense for categorizing un22 manned aircraft systems as a result of such review; 

23 (3) the costs and benefits of any planned revi24 sions; and 


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1 (4) a proposed implementation plan and 

2 timelines for such revisions. 

Æ 


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