Pilot program for unmanned aerial vehicle resupply to launch control facilities

(a) Authorization The Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, is authorized to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may establish a partnership to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a low cost and repeatable resupply of intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities or control centers using unmanned aircraft systems. (b) Elements If the Secretary carries out the pilot program authorized under subsection (a), such pilot program shall include— (1) demonstration flights conducted in unrestricted airspace, including the transportation of cargo, from a main Air Force Base to intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities or control centers; (2) consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the heads of other Federal agencies, as the Secretary determines appropriate, to facilitate the flights described in paragraph (1); (3) the use of existing technology to the greatest extent possible; (4) an evaluation of the potential of unmanned aircraft systems to resupply intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities or control centers more efficiently than ground-based resupply methods; and (5) the incorporation, implementation, and utilization of unmanned aircraft system service supplier airspace system integration services for enhanced safety, awareness, and command and control. (c) Termination The authorization to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Secretary establishes such a pilot program. (d) Annual report Not later than December 1 of each year in which the pilot program authorized under subsection (a) is carried out, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report summarizing the activities of the pilot program during the preceding year, including information on how the pilot program is supporting Air Force Global Strike Command requirements. (e) Briefing on refining legislation Not later than 180 days after the establishment of a pilot program authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force shall brief the congressional defense committees on any statutory adjustments required to enable or continue the efficient execution of such pilot program. (f) Definition of intercontinental ballistic missile launch facility or control center In this section, the term intercontinental ballistic missile launch facility or control center has the meaning given that term in section 183a(h) of title 10, United States Code.

(a) Authorization The Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, is authorized to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may establish a partnership to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a low cost and repeatable resupply of intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities or control centers using unmanned aircraft systems. (b) Elements If the Secretary carries out the pilot program authorized under subsection (a), such pilot program shall include— (1) demonstration flights conducted in unrestricted airspace, including the transportation of cargo, from a main Air Force Base to intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities or control centers; (2) consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the heads of other Federal agencies, as the Secretary determines appropriate, to facilitate the flights described in paragraph (1); (3) the use of existing technology to the greatest extent possible; (4) an evaluation of the potential of unmanned aircraft systems to resupply intercontinental ballistic missile launch facilities or control centers more efficiently than ground-based resupply methods; and (5) the incorporation, implementation, and utilization of unmanned aircraft system service supplier airspace system integration services for enhanced safety, awareness, and command and control. (c) Termination The authorization to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Secretary establishes such a pilot program. (d) Annual report Not later than December 1 of each year in which the pilot program authorized under subsection (a) is carried out, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report summarizing the activities of the pilot program during the preceding year, including information on how the pilot program is supporting Air Force Global Strike Command requirements. (e) Briefing on refining legislation Not later than 180 days after the establishment of a pilot program authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force shall brief the congressional defense committees on any statutory adjustments required to enable or continue the efficient execution of such pilot program. (f) Definition of intercontinental ballistic missile launch facility or control center In this section, the term intercontinental ballistic missile launch facility or control center has the meaning given that term in section 183a(h) of title 10, United States Code.