Pilot program on modernized health and usage monitoring systems to address obsolescence in army rotary-wing aircraft

(a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall establish and carry out a pilot program to evaluate commercially available, next-generation Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (referred to in this section as HUMS) technologies to address obsolescence issues affecting legacy monitoring systems installed on Army rotary-wing aircraft. (b) Objectives In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of the Army shall assess whether modernized HUMS technologies— (1) effectively mitigate obsolescence risks associated with legacy HUMS systems; (2) significantly enhance operational readiness of rotary-wing aircraft; (3) provide effective predictive maintenance capabilities resulting in reduced maintenance costs and increased aircraft availability; and (4) extend operational lifespan of existing rotary-wing platforms. (c) Duration The pilot program shall be carried out for a period not exceeding one year. (d) Platform selection In selecting rotary-wing aircraft for participation in the pilot program, the Secretary of the Army is encouraged to prioritize platforms whose evaluation would yield broadly applicable results, including potential relevance to rotary-wing aircraft operated by other branches of the Armed Forces. (e) Report Not later than 90 days after completion of the pilot program, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes— (1) an assessment of the tested HUMS technologies’ effectiveness in addressing obsolescence and improving readiness; and (2) recommendations for potential broader adoption across the Army rotary-wing fleet, including consideration of applicability to similar rotary-wing aircraft operated by other branches of the Armed Forces. (f) Funding (1) Increase Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 201 for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for Management Support, Aviation Safety, Line 201 (PE 0606301D8Z), as set forth in the funding table in section 4201, is hereby increased by $5,000,000. (2) Offset Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 101 for Procurement for Other Procurement, Army, IAMD Battle Command System, Line 116, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4101, is hereby reduced by $5,000,000. (g) Coordination The pilot program shall be conducted in coordination with the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team and the Program Executive Office Aviation.