Development, test, evaluation, demonstration, and transition to production of alternative low-cost weapon systems

(a) In general The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and in coordination with Secretaries of the military departments and the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, shall develop, test, evaluate, demonstrate, and transition to production, as appropriate, a portfolio of alternative, affordable, low-cost weapon systems in each of the following categories: (1) Hypersonic strike systems. (2) Cruise missiles. (3) Shoulder-launched missiles. (4) Extended range munitions. (5) Mid-range integrated air and missile defense interceptors. (6) Exoatmospheric interceptors. (7) Short-range integrated air and missile defense interceptors. (8) Medium-range air-to-air missiles. (9) Autonomous systems, counter-unmanned systems, and loitering munitions. (b) Requirements In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall— (1) employ innovative acquisition strategies, including rapid prototyping, digital engineering, modular open-system architectures, commercial-off-the-shelf components where feasible, and other cost-reduction initiatives to achieve significantly lower unit costs than current baseline systems while maintaining operationally relevant performance; (2) prioritize expendable designs optimized for attritable, high-volume employment, compatibility with existing launch platforms, logistics infrastructure, and command-and-control networks, and the ability to complement existing programs of record; (3) ensure systems are designed to enable production at scale in significantly greater quantities than current program of record systems through the prioritization of manufacturing ease and speed; (4) include technology maturation, risk reduction, testing, and transition planning to low-rate initial production not later than fiscal year 2030 for each category of weapon system specified in subsection (a); (5) establish specific cost and performance targets through competitive analysis, market research, prototyping, and experimentation; (6) maximize the use of commercial acquisition procedures, commercial solutions openings, other transaction authority, and other rapid acquisition authorities to increase participation by nontraditional defense contractors, commercial suppliers, and small businesses; (7) treat autonomous systems described in subsection (a)(9) as consumable combat equipment, including for purposes of acquisition, budgeting, sustainment, inventory, training, fielding, expenditure, replenishment, repair, upgrade, and replacement, unless the Secretary of Defense, or a covered designee, determines in writing that such treatment is inappropriate based on cost, complexity, expected service life, safety requirements, operational role, or replenishment requirements; and (8) ensure that autonomous systems described in subsection (a)(9) are not subjected to acquisition, sustainment, inventory, training, or fielding requirements applicable to aircraft, vessels, or enduring major platforms solely on the basis that such systems operate in the air, on the surface of the sea, or undersea, unless the Secretary of Defense, or a covered designee, determines in writing that such requirements are necessary based on safety, operational, or legal requirements. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term alternative low-cost systems means weapon systems in the categories listed in subsection (a) that are designed to achieve unit procurement costs significantly lower than existing program of record systems while delivering the minimum requirements set forth by the Secretary. (2) The term autonomous systems means unmanned, remotely operated, optionally unmanned, autonomous, or semiautonomous systems, including associated software, sensors, payloads, communications equipment, and mission autonomy capabilities, that operate in the air, on land, on or below the surface of the sea, or across multiple domains. (3) The term counter-unmanned systems means systems designed to detect, track, and defeat unmanned platforms through kinetic, directed energy, electronic warfare, cyber, or other means. (4) The term covered designee means the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Secretary of a military department, or a service acquisition executive. (5) The term cruise missiles means turbojet-powered missiles designed for standoff precision strikes against land or sea targets at ranges generally exceeding 250 nautical miles, with simplified guidance, propulsion, and airframe designs. (6) The term exoatmospheric interceptors means kinetic hit-to-kill interceptors designed for ballistic missile defense in the exoatmosphere, with engagement ranges generally exceeding 300 nautical miles (or equivalent altitudes above 50 nautical miles) and closing speeds of not less than Mach 8. (7) The term extended range munitions means ground-launched precision munitions designed for extended standoff strikes at ranges generally exceeding 50 nautical miles. (8) The term hypersonic strike systems means systems capable of Mach 5 or greater flight with maneuverability, designed for long-range precision strikes against time-sensitive, defended, or high-value targets at ranges generally exceeding 400 nautical miles. (9) The term loitering munitions means expendable unmanned aerial systems designed to loiter in a target area and deliver kinetic effects against surface targets, capable of autonomous or semiautonomous terminal guidance. (10) The term medium-range air-to-air missiles means guided missiles providing beyond-visual-range air-to-air intercept capability with diverse target-set engagement potential, performing intercepts at not less than 60 nautical miles and with a maximum speed of not less than Mach 3. (11) The term mid-range integrated air and missile defense interceptors means interceptors optimized for integrated air and missile defense against cruise missiles, aircraft, and short- to medium-range ballistic missiles, with engagement ranges of not less than 30 nautical miles and speeds of not less than Mach 3.5. (12) The term short-range integrated air and missile defense interceptors means interceptors for terminal defense against aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial systems, with engagement ranges of not less than five nautical miles and maximum speeds of not less than Mach 2. (13) The term shoulder-launched missiles means man-portable or vehicle-launched missiles providing fire-and-forget or command-guided antiarmor capability at ranges of not less than one nautical mile.