Analysis of force requirements for alternative warfighting scenarios

(a) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation and the Program Evaluation Competitive Analysis Cell established under section 139a(e) of title 10, United States Code, shall provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on force requirements for alternative warfighting scenarios. (b) Scope of scenarios The alternative warfighting scenarios to be addressed under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following types of scenarios: (1) A variety of first island chain scenarios in the Pacific, including protracted and simultaneous conflicts. (2) Regional contingencies from not fewer than two additional geographic combatant command areas of responsibility. (3) Conflicts with near-peer adversaries that result in horizontal escalation across geographic regions. (4) Hybrid or gray-zone conflict scenarios combining cyber operations, electronic warfare, space-based disruption, and irregular maritime activity by adversary forces. (c) Assessment of requirements For each scenario addressed under subsection (a), the briefing required by that subsection shall assess the following: (1) Required force composition (naval, air, and land-based units, including joint and allied contributions). (2) Current readiness levels of United States forces to execute the scenario. (3) Identified shortfalls in personnel, equipment, logistics, basing access, medical support capabilities, contingency contracting capability, munitions stockpiles, industrial base production capacities, and sustainment capabilities. (4) Estimated timelines for force reconstitution and sustainment under combat conditions, including replacement and training of military manpower personnel due to attrition. (5) Opportunities to increase the quantity and availability of required military effects through the use of lower-cost, rapidly producible, attritable, autonomous, commercial, or otherwise scalable capabilities capable of achieving acceptable operational outcomes, together with an evaluation of the risks, benefits, costs, implementation timelines, and any legislative or regulatory barriers associated with such approaches. (d) Objectives The purposes of the assessment of alternative warfighting scenarios under this section are— (1) to test and evaluate United States force readiness across a spectrum of potential contingencies; (2) to identify risks and gaps in such readiness; and (3) to inform future force planning, posture, and investment decisions.