DEFEND Act of 2022
Bill: S.4366 | Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni (R-IA)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defenses Act of 2022 or the DEFEND Act of 2022
This bill requires the Department of Defense to seek to cooperate with Middle East allies and partners (i.e., countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and other countries in the region as appropriate) to identify and develop an approach for such allies and partners to implement an integrated air and missile defense capability to protect against attacks from Iran and groups linked to Iran.

To require the Secretary of Defense to seek to cooperate with allies 
and partners in the Middle East to identify an architecture and develop 
  an acquisition approach for certain countries in the Middle East to 
 implement an integrated air and missile defense capability to protect 
the people, infrastructure, and territory of such countries from cruise 
and ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned aerial systems, and rocket 
               attacks from Iran, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling 
National Defenses Act of 2022'' or the ``DEFEND Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. MIDDLE EAST INTEGRATED AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall seek to cooperate 
with allies and partners in the Middle East to identify an architecture 
and develop an acquisition approach for the countries specified in 
subsection (b) to implement an integrated air and missile defense 
capability to protect the people, infrastructure, and territory of such 
countries from cruise and ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned 
aerial systems, and rocket attacks from Iran and groups linked to Iran.
    (b) Countries Specified.--The countries specified in this 
subsection are as follows:
            (1) Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
            (2) Iraq.
            (3) Israel.
            (4) Jordan.
            (5) Egypt.
            (6) Such other regional allies or partners of the United 
        States as the Secretary may identify.
    (c) Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        congressional defense committees a strategy on cooperation with 
        allies and partners in the Middle East to identify an 
        architecture and develop an acquisition approach for the 
        countries specified in subsection (b) to implement an 
        integrated air and missile defense capability to protect the 
        people, infrastructure, and territory of such countries from 
        cruise and ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned aerial 
        systems, and rocket attacks from Iran and groups linked to 
        Iran.
            (2) Contents.--The strategy submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) An assessment of the threat of ballistic and 
                cruise missiles, manned and unnamed aerial systems, and 
                rocket attacks from Iran and groups linked to Iran to 
                the countries specified in subsection (b).
                    (B) A description of current efforts to coordinate 
                indicators and warnings from such attacks with the 
                countries specified in subsection (b).
                    (C) A description of current systems to defend 
                against attacks in coordination with the countries 
                specified in subsection (b).
                    (D) An explanation of how an integrated air and 
                missile defense architecture would improve collective 
                security in the region covered by the countries 
                specified in subsection (b).
                    (E) A description of efforts to engage specified 
                foreign partners in establishing such an architecture.
                    (F) An identification of elements of the integrated 
                air and missile defense architecture that--
                            (i) can be acquired and operated by 
                        specified foreign partners; and
                            (ii) can only be provided and operated by 
                        members of the Armed Forces.
                    (G) An identification of any challenges in 
                establishing an integrated air and missile defense 
                architecture with specified foreign partners.
                    (H) An assessment of progress, and key challenges, 
                in the implementation of the strategy using such 
                metrics identified under paragraph (4).
                    (I) Recommendations for improvements in the 
                implementation of the strategy based on the metrics 
                identified under paragraph (4).
                    (J) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
                relevant.
            (3) Protection of sensitive information.--Any activity 
        carried out under paragraph (1) shall be conducted in a manner 
        that appropriately protects sensitive information and the 
        national security interests of the United States.
            (4) Metrics.--The Secretary shall identify metrics to 
        assess progress in the implementation of the strategy required 
        in paragraph (1).
            (5) Format.--The strategy submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a 
        classified annex.
    (d) Feasibility Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this act, the Secretary of Defense shall--
                    (A) complete a study on the feasibility and 
                advisability of establishing a fund for an integrated 
                air and missile defense system to counter the threats 
                from cruise and ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned 
                aerial systems, and rocket attacks for the countries 
                specified in subsection (b) from Iran and groups linked 
                with Iran; and
                    (B) submit to the congressional defense committees 
                the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study 
                completed under subparagraph (A).
            (2) Assessment of contributions.--The study completed under 
        paragraph (1)(A) shall include an assessment of funds that 
        could be contributed by allies of the United States and 
        countries that are partners with the United States.
    (e) Congressional Defense Committees Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
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