Report and briefing on submarine tender requirements and capacity

(a) Report required Not later than March 1, 2027, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the required number of submarine tenders (AS) to support the current and planned force structure of attack submarines (SSN), guided-missile submarines (SSGN), and ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), particularly in the United States Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. (b) Elements The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following elements: (1) An analysis of the required number of submarine tenders to meet theater maintenance and repair requirements through 2055, accounting for the planned expansion of the submarine fleet. (2) A detailed timeline and schedule for the procurement and deployment of the next-generation submarine tender (AS(X)) program to prevent operational capability gaps as the current aging fleet of AS–39 Emory S. Land-class tenders are decommissioned. (3) A detailed analysis of the impact of expeditionary submarine repair and reload capabilities on battle force effectiveness in a contested environment. (4) A description of how new tenders will provide depot-level maintenance, including repair of advanced weapons systems and unmanned aerial systems/unmanned underwater vehicles (UAS/UUV) support, as identified in the SSN(X) requirement report. (5) An assessment of the feasibility of utilizing other ship platforms, such as Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) or Landing Platform Dock (LPD) vessels, to augment submarine tender capabilities. (6) An evaluation of optimal homeporting locations for tenders to maximize Pacific operational flexibility, including Japan and Australia. (c) Form The report shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (d) Briefing requirement Not later than April 1, 2027, the Secretary of the Navy shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the findings of the report.