(1) by striking subsection (b); and 
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively. 
(c) MINIMUM NUMBER OF AIR REFUELING TANKER 
AIRCRAFT IN PMAI OF THE AIR FORCE.—Section 135(a) 
of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 
134 Stat. 3431) is amended by striking ‘‘412’’ and inserting 
‘‘400’’. 
(d) PROHIBITION ON REDUCTION OF KC–135 AIR-
CRAFT IN PMAI OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—None of the funds authorized 
to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made 
available for fiscal year 2023 for the Air Force may 
be obligated or expended to reduce, by more than 12 
aircraft, the number of KC–135 aircraft designated as 
primary mission aircraft inventory within the reserve 
components of the Air Force. 
(2) PRIMARY MISSION AIRCRAFT INVENTORY DE-
FINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘primary mis-
sion aircraft inventory’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 9062(i)(2)(B) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
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SEC. 143. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO F–22 AIRCRAFT. 
(a) LIMITATIONS AND MINIMUM INVENTORY REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 9062 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(k)(1) During the period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2023 and ending on September 30, 2027, the 
Secretary of the Air Force may not— 
‘‘(A) retire an F–22 aircraft; 
‘‘(B) reduce funding for unit personnel or weap-
on system sustainment activities for F–22 aircraft in 
a manner that presumes future congressional author-
ity to divest such aircraft; 
‘‘(C) keep an F–22 aircraft in a status consid-
ered excess to the requirements of the possessing com-
mand and awaiting disposition instructions (com-
monly referred to as ‘XJ’ status); or 
‘‘(D) decrease the total aircraft inventory of F– 
22 aircraft below 184 aircraft. 
‘‘(2) The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall not 
apply to individual F–22 aircraft that the Secretary of the 
Air Force determines, on a case-by-case basis, to be no 
longer mission capable and uneconomical to repair because 
of aircraft accidents, mishaps, or excessive material deg-
radation and non-airworthiness status of certain aircraft.’’. 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report that includes a strategy and exe-
cution plan, approved by the Secretary, for con-
ducting formal training for F–22 aircrews to ensure 
that combat capability, capacity, and availability at 
all F–22 operational units is not degraded. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The strategy and execution 
plan under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) address how the Air Force will avoid— 
(i) diminishing the combat effectiveness 
of all block variants of F–22 aircraft; 
(ii) exacerbating F–22 aircraft avail-
ability concerns; and 
(iii) complicating F–22 aircraft squad-
ron maintenance operations; and 
(B) include the plan of the Secretary for— 
(i) the basing of 184 F–22 aircraft; 
and 
(ii) the reestablishment of one or more 
F–22 formal training units, including— 
(I) the planned location of such 
units; 
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(II) the planned schedule for the 
reestablishment of such units; and 
(III) and the number of F–22 air-
craft that are expected to be assigned to 
such units. 
(c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL AUDIT.— 
(1) AUDIT REQUIRED.—The Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct an audit to assess 
and validate data and information relating to— 
(A) the events and activities that would be 
necessary to upgrade Block 20 F–22 aircraft to 
a capability configuration comparable to or ex-
ceeding the existing or planned configuration of 
Block 30/35 F–22 aircraft; 
(B) the estimated costs of such upgrades; 
and 
(C) a schedule of milestones for such up-
grades. 
(2) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—At the re-
quest of the Comptroller General, the Secretary of the 
Air Force shall promptly provide to the Comptroller 
General any data or other information that may be 
needed to conduct the audit under paragraph (1), in-
cluding any data or information it may be necessary 
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to obtain from the original equipment manufacturer 
of the F–22 aircraft. 
(3) BRIEFING.—Not later than April 15, 2023, 
the Comptroller General shall provide to the congres-
sional defense committees a briefing on the progress 
and any preliminary results of the audit conducted 
under paragraph (1). 
(4) REPORT.—Following the briefing under 
paragraph (3), at such time as is mutually agreed 
upon by the congressional defense committees and the 
Comptroller General, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port on the final results of the audit conducted under 
paragraph (1). 
SEC. 144. MODIFICATION OF EXCEPTION TO PROHIBITION 
ON CERTAIN REDUCTIONS TO B–1 BOMBER 
AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS. 
Section 133(b) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 
1574) is amended by striking ‘‘an individual unit’’ and in-
serting ‘‘a bomb wing’’. 
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SEC. 145. REPEAL OF AIR FORCE E–8C FORCE PRESEN-
TATION REQUIREMENT. 
Section 147 of the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115– 
232; 132 Stat. 1669) is amended by striking subsection (f). 
SEC. 146. MINIMUM INVENTORY OF C–130 AIRCRAFT. 
(a) MINIMUM INVENTORY REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—During the covered period, the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain a total in-
ventory of C–130 aircraft of not less than 271 air-
craft. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary of the Air Force 
may reduce the number of C–130 aircraft in the Air 
Force below the minimum number specified in para-
graph (1) if the Secretary determines, on a case-by- 
case basis, that an aircraft is no longer mission capa-
ble because of a mishap or other damage. 
(3) COVERED
PERIOD
DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘‘covered period’’ means the period— 
(A) beginning at the close of the period de-
scribed in section 138(c) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public 
Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1577); and 
(B) ending on September 30, 2023. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON REDUCTION OF C–130 AIRCRAFT 
ASSIGNED TO NATIONAL GUARD.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal year 2023, the 
Secretary of the Air Force may not reduce the total 
number of C–130 aircraft assigned to the National 
Guard below the number so assigned as of the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The prohibition under para-
graph (1) shall not apply to an individual C–130 
aircraft that the Secretary of the Air Force deter-
mines, on a case-by-case basis, to be no longer mission 
capable because of a mishap or other damage. 
SEC. 147. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR 
RETIREMENT OF C–40 AIRCRAFT. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—None of the funds authorized to be 
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for 
fiscal year 2023 for the Air Force may be obligated or ex-
pended to retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage or 
on backup aircraft inventory status any C–40 aircraft. 
(b) EXCEPTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The limitation under sub-
section (a) shall not apply to an individual C–40 air-
craft that the Secretary of the Air Force determines, 
on a case-by-case basis, to be no longer mission capa-
ble because of a Class A mishap. 
(2) CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—If the Secretary 
determines under paragraph (1) that an aircraft is 
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105 
no longer mission capable, the Secretary shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a certification 
that the status of such aircraft is due to a Class A 
mishap and not due to lack of maintenance or repairs 
or other reasons. 
SEC. 148. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR 
TERMINATION OF PRODUCTION LINES FOR 
HH–60W AIRCRAFT. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this 
Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2023 for the 
Air Force may be obligated or expended to terminate the 
operations of, or to prepare to terminate the operations of, 
a production line for HH–60W Combat Rescue Helicopters. 
SEC. 149. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN REDUCTIONS TO IN-
VENTORY OF E–3 AIRBORNE WARNING AND 
CONTROL SYSTEM AIRCRAFT. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in subsections 
(b) and (c), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated 
by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2023 
for the Air Force may be obligated or expended to retire, 
prepare to retire, or place in storage or in backup aircraft 
inventory any E–3 aircraft if such actions would reduce 
the total aircraft inventory for such aircraft below 26. 
(b) EXCEPTION FOR ACQUISITION STRATEGY.—If the 
Secretary of the Air Force submits to the congressional de-
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fense committees an acquisition strategy for the E–7 
Wedgetail aircraft approved by the Service Acquisition Ex-
ecutive of the Air Force, the prohibition under subsection 
(a) shall not apply to actions taken to reduce the total air-
craft inventory for E–3 aircraft to 21 after the date on 
which the strategy is so submitted. 
(c) EXCEPTION FOR CONTRACT AWARD.—If the Sec-
retary of the Air Force awards a contract for the E–7 
Wedgetail aircraft, the prohibition under subsection (a) 
shall not apply to actions taken to reduce the total aircraft 
inventory for E–3 aircraft to 18 after the date on which 
such contact is so awarded. 
(d) DESIGNATION AS PRIMARY TRAINING AIRCRAFT 
INVENTORY.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall designate 
two E–3 aircraft as Primary Training Aircraft Inventory. 
SEC. 150. LIMITATION ON DIVESTMENT OF F–15 AIRCRAFT. 
(a) LIMITATION.—Beginning on October 1, 2023, the 
Secretary of the Air Force may not divest, or prepare to 
divest, any covered F–15 aircraft until a period of 180 days 
has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary sub-
mits the report required under subsection (b). 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Air 
Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report on the following: 
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(1) Any plans of the Secretary to divest covered 
F–15 aircraft during the period covered by the most 
recent future-years defense program submitted to Con-
gress under section 221 of title 10, United States 
Code, including— 
(A) a description of each proposed divest-
ment by fiscal year and location; 
(B) an explanation of the anticipated effects 
of such divestments on the missions, personnel, 
force structure, and budgeting of the Air Force; 
(C) a description of the actions the Sec-
retary intends to carry out— 
(i) to mitigate any negative effects 
identified under subparagraph (B); and 
(ii) to modify or replace the missions 
and capabilities of any units and military 
installations affected by such divestments; 
and 
(D) an assessment of how such divestments 
may affect the ability of the Air Force to main-
tain minimum tactical aircraft inventories. 
(2) Any plans of the Secretary to procure covered 
F–15 aircraft. 
(3) Any specific plans of the Secretary to deviate 
from procurement of new F–15EX aircraft as articu-
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lated by the validated requirements contained in Air 
Force Requirements Decision Memorandum, dated 
February 1, 2019, regarding F–15EX Rapid Fielding 
Requirements Document, dated January 16, 2019. 
(c) COVERED F–15 AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered F–15 aircraft’’ means the following: 
(1) F–15C aircraft. 
(2) F–15D aircraft. 
(3) F–15E aircraft. 
(4) F–15EX aircraft. 
SEC. 151. AUTHORITY TO PROCURE UPGRADED EJECTION 
SEATS FOR CERTAIN T–38A AIRCRAFT. 
The Secretary of the Air Force is authorized to procure 
upgraded ejection seats for— 
(1) all T–38A aircraft of the Air Force Global 
Strike Command that have not received an upgraded 
ejection seat under the T–38 Ejection Seat Upgrade 
Program; and 
(2) all T–38A aircraft of the Air Combat Com-
mand that have not received an upgraded ejection 
seat as part of such Program. 
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SEC. 152. PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR DIGITAL MIS-
SION 
OPERATIONS 
PLATFORM 
FOR 
THE 
SPACE FORCE. 
(a) PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of the 
Air Force is authorized to enter into one or more contracts 
for the procurement of a digital mission operations plat-
form for the Space Force. 
(b) REQUIRED CAPABILITIES.—A digital mission op-
erations platform procured under subsection (a) shall in-
clude the following capabilities: 
(1) The platform shall be capable of providing 
systems operators with the ability to analyze system 
performance in a simulated mission environment. 
(2) The platform shall enable collaboration 
among such operators in an integrated, physics-based 
environment. 
SEC. 153. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION COMMERCIAL SOFT-
WARE ACQUISITION. 
(a) PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of the 
Air Force may enter into one or more contracts for the pro-
curement of commercial digital engineering and software 
tools to meet the digital transformation goals and objectives 
of the Department of the Air Force. 
(b) INCLUSION OF PROGRAM ELEMENT IN BUDGET 
MATERIALS.—In the materials submitted by the Secretary 
of the Air Force in support of the budget of the President 
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110 
for fiscal year 2024 (as submitted to Congress pursuant to 
section 1105 of title 31, United States Code), the Secretary 
shall include a program element dedicated to the procure-
ment and management of the commercial digital engineer-
ing and software tools described in subsection (a). 
(c) REVIEW.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of the Air Force shall— 
(1) review the market for commercial digital en-
gineering and software tools; and 
(2) conduct research on providers of commercial 
software capabilities that have the potential to expe-
dite the progress of digital engineering initiatives 
across the weapon system enterprise, with a par-
ticular focus on capabilities that have the potential to 
generate significant life-cycle cost savings, streamline 
and accelerate weapon system acquisition, and pro-
vide data-driven approaches to inform investments by 
the Department of the Air Force. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 2023, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report that includes— 
(1) an analysis of specific digital engineering 
and software tool capability manufacturers that de-
liver high mission impact with broad reach into the 
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111 
weapon system enterprise of the Department of the 
Air Force; and 
(2) a prioritized list of programs and offices of 
the Department of the Air Force that could better uti-
lize commercial digital engineering and software tools 
and opportunities for the implementation of such dig-
ital engineering and software tool capabilities within 
the Department. 
SEC. 154. REQUIREMENTS STUDY AND STRATEGY FOR THE 
COMBAT SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION OF 
THE AIR FORCE. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS STUDY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Air 
Force shall conduct a study to determine the require-
ments for the combat search and rescue mission of the 
Air Force in support of the objectives of the National 
Defense Strategy. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The study under paragraph (1) 
shall include the following: 
(A) Identification of anticipated combat 
search and rescue mission requirements nec-
essary to meet the objectives of the most recent 
National Defense Strategy, including— 
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112 
(i) requirements for short-term, mid- 
term, 
and 
long-term 
contingency 
and 
steady-state operations against adversaries; 
(ii) requirements under the Agile Com-
bat Employment operational scheme of the 
Air Force; 
(iii) requirements relating to regions 
and specific geographic areas that are ex-
pected to have a need for combat search and 
rescue forces based on the combat-relevant 
range and penetration capability of United 
States air assets and associated weapon sys-
tems; and 
(iv) the level of operational risk associ-
ated with each likely requirement and sce-
nario. 
(B) An assessment of the rotary, tilt, and 
fixed wing aircraft and key combat search and 
rescue enabling capabilities that— 
(i) are needed to meet the requirements 
identified under subparagraph (A); and 
(ii) have been accounted for in the 
budget of the Air Force as of the date of the 
study. 
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(C) Identification of any combat search and 
rescue capability gaps, including an assessment 
of— 
(i) whether and to what extent such 
gaps may affect the ability of the Air Force 
to conduct combat search and rescue oper-
ations; 
(ii) any capability gaps that may be 
created by procuring fewer HH–60W air-
craft than planned under the program of 
record, including any expected changes to 
the plan for fielding such aircraft for active, 
reserve, and National Guard units; and 
(iii) any capability gaps attributable 
to unfunded requirements. 
(D) Identification and assessment of key 
current, emerging, and future technologies with 
potential application to the combat search and 
rescue mission, including electric vertical takeoff 
and landing, unmanned aerial systems, armed 
air launched effects or similar armed capabili-
ties, electric short take-off and landing, or a com-
bination of such technologies. 
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(E) An assessment of each technology iden-
tified under subparagraph (D), including (as ap-
plicable) an assessment of— 
(i) technology maturity; 
(ii) suitability to the combat search 
and rescue mission; 
(iii) range; 
(iv) speed; 
(v) payload capability and capacity; 
(vi) radio frequency and infrared sig-
natures; 
(vii) operational conditions required 
for the use of such technology, such as run-
way availability; 
(viii) survivability; 
(ix) lethality; 
(x) potential to support combat mis-
sions other than combat search and rescue; 
and 
(xi) estimated cost. 
(3) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 30, 
2023, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Sen-
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115 
ate and the House of Representatives a report on 
the results of the study under paragraph (1). 
(B) FORM.—The report required under sub-
paragraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified 
form, but may include a classified annex. 
(b) STRATEGY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Based on the results of the 
study conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
the Air Force shall develop a strategy to meet the re-
quirements identified under such study. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The strategy under paragraph 
(1) shall include— 
(A) A prioritized list of the capabilities 
needed to meet the requirements identified under 
subsection (a). 
(B) The estimated costs of such capabilities, 
including— 
(i) any amounts already budgeted for 
such capabilities as of the date of the strat-
egy, including amounts already budgeted 
for emerging and future technologies; and 
(ii) any amounts not already budgeted 
for such capabilities as of such date. 
(C) An estimate of the date by which the ca-
pability is expected to become operational. 
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116 
(D) A description of any requirements iden-
tified under subsection (a) that the Secretary of 
the Air Force does not expect to meet as part of 
the strategy and an explanation of the reasons 
such requirements cannot be met. 
(3) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 30, 
2023, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives a report on 
the strategy developed under paragraph (1). 
(B) FORM.—The report required under sub-
paragraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified 
form, but may include a classified annex. 
SEC. 155. PLAN FOR TRANSFER OF KC–135 AIRCRAFT TO 
THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Air Force 
shall develop a plan to transfer covered KC–135 aircraft 
to air refueling wings of the Air National Guard that are 
classic associations with active duty units of the Air Force. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force 
shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the 
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plan developed under subsection (a). The briefing shall in-
clude an explanation of— 
(1) the effects the plan is expected to have on— 
(A) the aerial refueling capability of the De-
partment of Defense; and 
(B) personnel; and 
(2) any costs associated with the plan. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered KC–135 aircraft’’ means 
a KC–135 aircraft that the Secretary of the Air Force 
is in the process of replacing with a KC–46A aircraft. 
(2) The term ‘‘classic association’’ means a 
structure under which a regular Air Force unit re-
tains principal responsibility for an aircraft and 
shares the aircraft with one or more reserve compo-
nent units. 
SEC. 156. ANNUAL REPORTS ON T–7A ADVANCED PILOT 
TRAINING SYSTEM. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 2023, 
and annually thereafter through 2028, the Assistant Sec-
retary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Lo-
gistics shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on 
the acquisition efforts of the Air Force with respect to the 
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T–7A Advanced Pilot Training System (including any as-
sociated aircraft and ground training systems). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) An overview of the Assistant Secretary’s ac-
quisition strategy for the T–7 Advanced Pilot Train-
ing System, including the current status of the acqui-
sition strategy as of the date of the report. 
(2) The cost and schedule estimates for the T–7 
Advanced Pilot Training System program. 
(3) In the case of the initial report under this 
section, the key performance parameters or the equiv-
alent requirements for the program. In the case of 
subsequent reports, any key performance parameters 
or the equivalent requirements for the program that 
have changed since the submission of the previous re-
port under this section. 
(4) The test and evaluation master plan for the 
program. 
(5) With respect to the testing program events 
completed in the year covered by the report— 
(A) the completion date of each event; 
(B) a summary of the event, including iden-
tification of— 
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119 
(i) the quantity of data points evalu-
ated and subsequently considered complete 
and validated; and 
(ii) the quantity of data points evalu-
ated that remain incomplete or unvalidated 
and requiring further testing. 
(6) The logistics and sustainment strategy for 
the program and a description of any activities car-
ried out to implement such strategy as of the date of 
the report. 
(7) An explanation of— 
(A) the causes of any engineering, manufac-
turing, development, testing, production, deliv-
ery, acceptance, and fielding delays incurred by 
the program as of the date of the report; 
(B) the effects of such delays; and 
(C) any subsequent efforts to address such 
delays. 
(8) The post-production aircraft basing and 
fielding strategy for the program. 
(9) Any other matters regarding the acquisition 
of the T–7 Advanced Pilot Training System that the 
Assistant Secretary determines to be of critical impor-
tance to the long-term viability of the program. 
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Subtitle E—Defense-wide, Joint, 
and Multiservice Matters 
SEC. 161. INCREASE IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY USE OF USED 
COMMERCIAL DUAL-USE PARTS IN CERTAIN 
AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air 
Force, with respect to the Air Force, and the Secretary of 
the Navy, with respect to the Navy, shall develop and imple-
ment processes and procedures for— 
(1) the acquisition of used, overhauled, recondi-
tioned, and remanufactured commercial dual-use 
parts; and 
(2) the use of such commercial dual-use parts in 
all— 
(A) commercial derivative aircraft and en-
gines; and 
(B) aircraft used by the Air Force or Navy 
that are based on the design of commercial prod-
ucts. 
(b) PROCUREMENT OF PARTS.—The processes and pro-
cedures implemented under subsection (a) shall provide that 
commercial dual-use parts shall be acquired— 
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(1) pursuant to competitive procedures (as de-
fined in section 3012 of title 10, United States Code); 
and 
(2) only from suppliers that provide parts that 
possess an Authorized Release Certificate Federal 
Aviation Administration Form 8130-3 Airworthy Ap-
proval Tag from a certified repair station pursuant 
to part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMERCIAL DERIVATIVE.—The term ‘‘com-
mercial derivative’’ means an item procured by the 
Department of Defense that is or was produced using 
the same or similar production facilities, a common 
supply chain, and the same or similar production 
processes that are used for the production of the item 
as predominantly used by the general public or by 
nongovernmental entities for purposes other than gov-
ernmental purposes. 
(2) COMMERCIAL
DUAL-USE
PART.—The term 
‘‘commercial dual-use part’’ means a product that 
is— 
(A) a commercial product; 
(B) dual-use; 
(C) described in subsection (b)(2); and 
(D) not a life-limited part. 
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(3) COMMERCIAL PRODUCT.—The term ‘‘commer-
cial product’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 103 of title 41, United States Code. 
(4) DUAL-USE.—The term ‘‘dual-use’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 4801 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 162. ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY FOR FIELDING CA-
PABILITIES TO COUNTER THREATS POSED BY 
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM SWARMS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT, ANALYSIS, AND REVIEW.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall conduct— 
(1) an assessment of the threats posed by un-
manned aerial system swarms and unmanned aerial 
systems with swarm capabilities to installations and 
deployed Armed Forces; 
(2) an analysis of the use or potential use of un-
manned aerial system swarms by adversaries, includ-
ing the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Fed-
eration, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic 
People’s Republic of North Korea, and non-state ac-
tors; 
(3) an analysis of the national security implica-
tions of swarming technologies such as autonomous 
intelligence and machine learning; 
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(4) a review of the capabilities used by the De-
partment of Defense to counter threats posed by un-
manned aerial systems and an assessment of the effec-
tiveness of such capabilities at countering the threat 
of unmanned aerial system swarms; and 
(5) an overview of the efforts of the Department 
of Defense to develop and field test technologies that 
offer scalable, modular, and rapidly deployable capa-
bilities with the ability to counter unmanned aerial 
system swarms. 
(b) STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION 
REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
develop and implement a strategy to field capabilities 
to counter threats posed by unmanned aerial system 
swarms. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The development of a comprehensive 
definition of ‘‘unmanned aerial system swarm’’. 
(B) A plan to establish and incorporate re-
quirements for the development, testing, and 
fielding of technologies and capabilities to 
counter unmanned aerial system swarms. 
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(C) A plan to acquire and field adequate 
capabilities to counter unmanned aerial system 
swarms in defense of the Armed Forces, infra-
structure, and other assets of the United States 
across land, air, and maritime domains. 
(D) An estimate of the resources needed by 
each Armed Force to implement the strategy. 
(E) 
An 
analysis, 
determination, 
and 
prioritization of legislative action required to en-
sure the Department of Defense has the ability to 
counter the threats posed by unmanned aerial 
system swarms. 
(F) Such other matters as the Secretary de-
termines to be relevant to the strategy. 
(3) INCORPORATION INTO EXISTING STRATEGY.— 
The Secretary of Defense may incorporate the strategy 
required by paragraph (1) into a comprehensive 
strategy of the Department of Defense to counter the 
threat of unmanned aerial systems. 
(c) INFORMATION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report on— 
(1) the findings of the Secretary under subsection 
(a); and 
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(2) the strategy developed and implemented by 
the Secretary under subsection (b). 
SEC. 163. ASSESSMENT AND REPORT ON MILITARY ROTARY 
WING AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIAL BASE. 
(a) ASSESSMENT REQUIRED.—The Under Secretary of 
Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination 
with the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, shall 
conduct an assessment of the military rotary wing aircraft 
industrial base. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The assessment under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1)(A) Identification of each rotary wing aircraft 
program of the Department of Defense that is in the 
research and development or procurement phase. 
(B) A description of any platform-specific or ca-
pability-specific facility or workforce technical skill 
requirements necessary for each program identified 
under subparagraph (A). 
(2) Identification of— 
(A) the rotary wing aircraft capabilities of 
each Armed Force anticipated for programming 
beyond the period covered by the most recent fu-
ture-years defense program submitted to Con-
gress under section 221 of title 10, United States 
Code (as of the date of the assessment); and 
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(B) the technologies, facilities, and work-
force skills necessary for the development of such 
capabilities. 
(3) An assessment of the military industrial base 
capacity and skills that are available (as of the date 
of the assessment) to design and manufacture the 
platforms and capabilities identified under para-
graphs (1) and (2) and a list of any gaps in such ca-
pacity and skills. 
(4)(A) Identification of each component, sub-
component, or equipment supplier in the military ro-
tary wing aircraft industrial base that is the sole 
source within such industrial base from which that 
component, subcomponent, or equipment may be ob-
tained. 
(B) An assessment of any risk resulting from the 
lack of other suppliers for such components, sub-
components, or equipment. 
(5) Analysis of the likelihood of future consolida-
tion, contraction, or expansion, within the rotary 
wing aircraft industrial base, including— 
(A) identification of the most probable sce-
narios with respect to such consolidation, con-
traction, or expansion; and 
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(B) an assessment of how each such scenario 
may affect the ability of the Armed Forces to ac-
quire military rotary wing aircraft in the fu-
ture, including any effects on the cost and sched-
ule of such acquisitions. 
(6) Such other matters the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment determines 
appropriate. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than June 1, 2023, the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report that 
includes— 
(1) the results of the assessment conducted under 
subsection (a); and 
(2) based on such results, recommendations for 
reducing any risks identified with respect to the mili-
tary rotary wing aircraft industrial base. 
(d) ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘rotary wing aircraft’’ includes rotary wing 
and tiltrotor aircraft. 
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SEC. 164. COMPTROLLER GENERAL AUDIT OF EFFORTS TO 
MODERNIZE THE PROPULSION, POWER, AND 
THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS OF F–35 
AIRCRAFT. 
(a) AUDIT REQUIRED.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct an audit of the efforts of 
the Department of Defense to modernize the propulsion, 
power, and thermal management systems of F–35 aircraft. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The audit conducted under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An evaluation of the results of the business- 
case analysis conducted by the Director of the F–35 
Joint Program Office, in which the Director assessed 
options to modernize the propulsion, power, and ther-
mal management systems of the F–35 aircraft. 
(2) An assessment of the costs associated with 
each modernization option assessed in the business- 
case analysis described in paragraph (1), including 
any costs associated with development, production, 
retrofit, integration, and installation of the option 
(including any aircraft modifications required to ac-
commodate such option), and an assessment of the 
sustainment infrastructure requirements associated 
with that option for each variant of F–35 aircraft. 
(3) An assessment of the progress made by the 
prototype engines developed under the Adaptive En-
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(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘the Center’’ and inserting ‘‘the Office’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘the Cen-
ter’’ and inserting ‘‘the Office’’; 
(7) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘the Director’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the Official’’; and 
(8) in subsection (g)— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (3); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and 
(5) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively. 
(j) BIANNUAL REPORT ON OFFICE OF THE SENIOR OF-
FICIAL WITH PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARTIFICIAL 
INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING.—Section 260 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2020 (Public Law 116–92) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘JOINT 
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘OFFICE OF THE SENIOR OFFICIAL WITH 
PRINCIPAL
RESPONSIBILITY
FOR
ARTIFICIAL 
INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘2026’’; and 
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