Briefing on feasibility of foreign transfer, security cooperation, and contingency basing options for surplus A–10 aircraft

(a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Surplus A–10 aircraft may retain value for security cooperation, partner burden-sharing, contingency operations, or recoverable storage arrangements. (2) It is possible that such aircraft could be transferred to eligible foreign partners through existing authorities, maintained in recoverable status for future foreign military sales or excess defense articles consideration, or used to support contingency basing or coalition interoperability requirements. (b) Briefing Not later than January 15, 2027, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Air Force and the Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing on the feasibility of transferring surplus A–10 aircraft to eligible foreign partners, or otherwise maintaining such aircraft in recoverable status to support future security cooperation or contingency operations. The briefing shall include the following: (1) An assessment of the feasibility of transfer through foreign military sales, excess defense articles, or other appropriate authorities. (2) An identification of allies or partners that may be suitable candidates to operate, host, or support surplus A–10 aircraft. (3) An assessment of training, maintenance, sustainment, basing, interoperability, and force protection requirements associated with any such transfer or arrangement. (4) An assessment of export-control, technology security, and end-use monitoring considerations.