(a) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall establish standards for a common operating system for small unmanned aircraft systems.
(b) Elements
The standards established under subsection (a) shall provide for a common operating system for small unmanned aircraft systems that—
enables interoperability between small unmanned aircraft system platforms from different vendors and classes across the joint force;
enables modular integration of mission applications, including by enabling the use of applications and features from multiple different vendors on the same platform;
facilitates rapid deployment of autonomy and command and control functions;
facilitates rapid deployment of autonomy and operating capabilities in contested, degraded, and denied environments, including capabilities enabling operation in contested electromagnetic and degraded positioning, navigation, and timing environments;
integrates operating software that can function on multiple hardware platforms from different vendors;
supports secure software updates and cybersecurity improvements;
avoids vendor lock by enabling multiple vendors of hardware and software to develop and field applications and capabilities; and
establishes baseline standards for aided target recognition capabilities.
(c) Implementation
(1) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense finalizes the standards under subsection (a), the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop and commence implementation of a plan for equipping small unmanned aircraft systems of the Department of Defense with a common operating system that meets such standards.
(2) Use of commercially available solutions
In implementing the plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall make use of commercially available solutions to the maximum extent practicable.