Establishment of United States Robotic and Autonomous Systems Command

Chapter 6 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 167 the following new section: 167a. Unified combatant command for robotic and autonomous systems (a) Establishment With the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the President, through the Secretary of Defense, may establish under section 161 of this title a unified combatant command for robotic and autonomous systems, to be known as the United States Robotic and Autonomous Systems Command (in this section referred to as RASCOM). (b) Mission (1) In general In addition to the authority prescribed in section 164(c) of this title, if RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Commander of RASCOM shall be responsible for, and have the authority to conduct, all functions relating to robotic and autonomous systems assigned by the Secretary of Defense, including force generation, joint training, interoperability, doctrine development, and operational employment through other combatant commands. (2) Exclusions The Commander of RASCOM shall not be responsible for— (A) space systems; (B) autonomous cyber capabilities; (C) nuclear command, control, and communications systems; (D) integrated air and missile defense sensing; or (E) Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment capabilities. (c) Service component commands and force generation (1) Establishment If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force shall each establish a service component command under RASCOM to support force generation, organization, training, and equipping of forces for robotic and autonomous systems operations. (2) Career paths and training pipelines (A) In general Each service component command established under paragraph (1) shall include dedicated career paths, military occupational specialties (or equivalent ratings), promotion tracks, and training pipelines for personnel assigned to robotic and autonomous systems duties. (B) Inclusion in manpower reports If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments concerned, shall ensure that the career paths, specialties, tracks, and pipelines described in subparagraph (A) are integrated into the personnel management systems of the respective armed forces and reported in the annual manpower reports required under section 115a of this title. (d) Subordinate unified commands If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Commander of RASCOM shall establish subordinate unified commands to operate under the operational control of each geographic combatant command or other combatant command identified by the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of integrating robotic and autonomous systems capabilities into theater operations. Such subordinate unified commands shall be funded and resourced through RASCOM. (e) Limitation on exercise of command authority (1) In general If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Commander of RASCOM may not command or exercise operational control over operations or forces within the area of responsibility of any other combatant command unless— (A) the combatant commander of that command transfers operational control to the Commander of RASCOM; or (B) specifically directed by the Secretary of Defense. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of Defense under section 162 or 164 of this title. (f) Joint subordinate unified command If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Commander of RASCOM shall establish a joint subordinate unified command to be responsible for— (1) generating requirements for robotic and autonomous systems; (2) ensuring interoperability and establishing standards across the joint force; (3) planning and conducting joint exercises and training; (4) developing tactics, techniques, and procedures; (5) exercising special test and evaluation authorities for acquisition projects as provided in subsection (h); and (6) establishing standards for human systems integration in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the Surgeons General of the military departments. (g) Operational test and evaluation authority (1) In general If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Commander of RASCOM shall— (A) serve as the principal operational test and evaluation functional authority for all programs involving robotic and autonomous systems; and (B) in that capacity— (i) determine operational effectiveness and operational suitability; and (ii) have authority to designate and establish test ranges, develop test plans, and issue independent reports on such programs. (2) Exclusion of programs on oversight list of Director of Operational Test and Evaluation Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the oversight responsibilities of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation with respect to programs on the oversight list of the Director. (h) Limited acquisition authority (1) In general If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense may delegate contracting authorities to the Commander of RASCOM sufficient to enable the Commander— (A) subject to paragraph (2), to procure limited quantities of robotic and autonomous systems equipment and associated capabilities (including unmanned platforms, attritable systems, swarms, mission kits, and related artificial intelligence-enabled autonomy, command and control, and counter-unmanned systems) for experimental, test and evaluation, rapid prototyping, and initial fielding purposes; and (B) to procure, operate, and sustain robotic and autonomous systems equipment and capabilities that one or more military departments have included in a marketplace, catalog, or other pre-priced contracting vehicle with established pricing and agreed-upon terms and conditions. (2) Limitation The Commander may not enter into a contract under paragraph (1)(A) to procure robotic and autonomous systems equipment and associated capabilities the cost of which exceeds $20,000,000. (i) Major force program (1) In general If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall establish and maintain a separate major force program category for RASCOM in— (A) the future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of this title; and (B) all budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the budget of the Department of Defense for a fiscal year (as submitted to Congress with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31). (2) Requirements for budget justification materials If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the major force program category for RASCOM required by paragraph (1) shall— (A) be presented distinctly in the budget justification materials described in paragraph (1)(B); and (B) include all resources required for the force generation, training, equipping, and sustainment of robotic and autonomous systems capabilities. (j) Reporting requirement (1) In general If RASCOM is established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, and annually thereafter for the following five fiscal years, submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the implementation and status of RASCOM. (2) Elements Each report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) A description of the establishment and manning of RASCOM, each service component command, and the subordinate unified commands, including timelines for full operational capability. (B) An assessment of the status of dedicated career paths, training pipelines, and force generation activities across the armed forces. (C) A summary of interoperability standards, tactics, techniques, and procedures developed, and joint exercises conducted. (D) An evaluation of RASCOM’s performance as the operational test and evaluation functional authority, including any recommendations for adjustments to the exception for major defense acquisition programs on the oversight list of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. (E) A detailed accounting of resources allocated through the major force program established under subsection (i), including any challenges in execution or service equities. (F) Any other matters the Secretary determines appropriate, including recommendations for legislative changes to improve the effectiveness of RASCOM. (k) Robotic and autonomous systems defined In this section, the term robotic and autonomous systems includes unmanned aerial, maritime, ground, and subsurface platforms, attritable systems, swarms, and associated artificial intelligence-enabled autonomy and counter-unmanned systems capabilities..