Enhancement of Navy submarine rescue capabilities

(a) Diversification Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, in order to ensure operational readiness in the event of a prolonged unavailability of any single system, to the extent practicable, the Secretary of the Navy shall develop and maintain multiple, redundant submarine rescue capabilities, including— (1) Navy-owned rescue systems; and (2) commercially-classified or contract-operated rescue systems certified under internationally recognized classification standards. (b) Technological modernization To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (1) integrate emerging technologies, including unmanned and autonomous underwater vehicles, into submarine rescue operations to improve— (A) search and location of distressed submarines; (B) mission situational awareness; and (C) risk mitigation for human rescue personnel; and (2) evaluate and, where feasible, develop new deep submarine escape and survival technologies to extend safe crew survivability beyond current operational depth limits. (c) Training and operational readiness To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (1) ensure the conduct of frequent, realistic training exercises for submarine crews and rescue teams, simulating disabled submarine scenarios under operationally relevant conditions; and (2) integrate advanced modeling and simulation tools to optimize rescue search and response planning under uncertain environmental conditions. (d) International interoperability To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (1) expand cooperation and interoperability with allied submarine-operating nations, including through— (A) participation in multinational exercises, such as Pacific Reach and NATO Dynamic Monarch; and (B) engagement with the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office and other relevant international bodies; and (2) develop agreements, standard operating procedures, and shared protocols to enable coordinated, multinational response to submarine distress incidents. (e) Oversight, safety, and risk reduction To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (1) ensure independent classification, inspection, and certification of all rescue systems, both Navy-owned and commercially operated, to maintain the highest safety and operational standards; and (2) continue programs that reduce the likelihood of submarine accidents, including submarine safety and quality assurance initiatives, to complement rescue capabilities. (f) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the implementation of this section.

(a) Diversification Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, in order to ensure operational readiness in the event of a prolonged unavailability of any single system, to the extent practicable, the Secretary of the Navy shall develop and maintain multiple, redundant submarine rescue capabilities, including— (1) Navy-owned rescue systems; and (2) commercially-classified or contract-operated rescue systems certified under internationally recognized classification standards. (b) Technological modernization To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (1) integrate emerging technologies, including unmanned and autonomous underwater vehicles, into submarine rescue operations to improve— (A) search and location of distressed submarines; (B) mission situational awareness; and (C) risk mitigation for human rescue personnel; and (2) evaluate and, where feasible, develop new deep submarine escape and survival technologies to extend safe crew survivability beyond current operational depth limits. (c) Training and operational readiness To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (1) ensure the conduct of frequent, realistic training exercises for submarine crews and rescue teams, simulating disabled submarine scenarios under operationally relevant conditions; and (2) integrate advanced modeling and simulation tools to optimize rescue search and response planning under uncertain environmental conditions. (d) International interoperability To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (1) expand cooperation and interoperability with allied submarine-operating nations, including through— (A) participation in multinational exercises, such as Pacific Reach and NATO Dynamic Monarch; and (B) engagement with the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office and other relevant international bodies; and (2) develop agreements, standard operating procedures, and shared protocols to enable coordinated, multinational response to submarine distress incidents. (e) Oversight, safety, and risk reduction To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall— (1) ensure independent classification, inspection, and certification of all rescue systems, both Navy-owned and commercially operated, to maintain the highest safety and operational standards; and (2) continue programs that reduce the likelihood of submarine accidents, including submarine safety and quality assurance initiatives, to complement rescue capabilities. (f) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the implementation of this section.