I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6292 
To direct the Department of Defense to report to Congress on the potential 
integration of advanced propulsion systems into F–35 aircraft, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 14, 2021 
Mr. WENSTRUP (for himself and Mr. TURNER) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To direct the Department of Defense to report to Congress 
on the potential integration of advanced propulsion sys-
tems into F–35 aircraft, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Fighter propulsion is one of the few areas 
in which the United States maintains a clear advan-
tage over near-peer adversaries, specifically China 
and its threat to the Indo-Pacific region. 
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(2) The F–35 will be one of the key elements 
of the frontline fighter forces of the military services 
and United States allies and partners for decades to 
come. 
(3) Failure to develop an adaptive cycle engine 
and make it available for production on the F–35 
would constitute a missed opportunity and open a 
door for United States adversaries to overtake field-
ed engine technology. 
(4) Maintaining a strong industrial base and 
competition is critical to supporting the National 
Defense Strategy. 
SEC. 2. ADAPTIVE ENGINE TRANSITION PROGRAM ACQUISI-
TION STRATEGY FOR THE F–35A AIRCRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Air Force, in consultation with the Under Secretary of De-
fense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report on the integra-
tion of the Adaptive Engine Transition Program propul-
sion system into the F–35A aircraft. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A competitive acquisition strategy, informed 
by fiscal considerations, to— 
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(A) integrate the Adaptive Engine Transi-
tion Program propulsion system into the F–35A 
aircraft; and 
(B) begin, in fiscal year 2027, activities to 
retrofit all F–35A aircraft with such propulsion 
system. 
(2) An implementation plan to implement such 
strategy. 
(3) A schedule annotating pertinent milestones 
and yearly fiscal resource requirements for the im-
plementation of such strategy. 
SEC. 3. ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEM ACQUISITION 
STRATEGY FOR THE F–35B AND F–35C AIR-
CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Navy, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall submit to the con-
gressional defense committees a report on the integration 
of an advanced propulsion system into F–35B and F–35C 
aircraft. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An analysis of the effects of an advanced 
propulsion system on the combat effectiveness and 
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sustainment costs of F–35B and F–35C aircraft, in-
cluding any effects resulting from— 
(A) increased thrust, fuel efficiency, ther-
mal capacity, and electrical generation; and 
(B) improvements in acceleration, speed, 
range, and overall mission effectiveness. 
(2) An assessment of how the integration of an 
advanced propulsion system may result in— 
(A) a reduction in dependency on support 
assets, including air refueling and replenish-
ment tankers; and 
(B) an overall cost benefit to the Depart-
ment from reduced acquisition and sustainment 
for such support assets. 
(3) A competitive acquisition strategy informed 
by fiscal considerations, the assessment of combat 
effectiveness under paragraph (1), and consideration 
of technical limitations— 
(A) to integrate an advanced propulsion 
system into F–35B aircraft and F–35C air-
craft; 
(B) to begin, not later than fiscal year 
2027, activities to produce all F–35B aircraft 
and all F–35C aircraft with such propulsion 
systems; and 
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