(a) Strategy
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 develop a strategy for the sustainment of covered unmanned aircraft systems. Such strategy shall address, and differentiate between, stockpiled covered unmanned aircraft systems and covered unmanned aircraft systems in use on a more frequent basis.
(b) Elements
The strategy under subsection (a) shall include the following:
A plan to ensure continuous software updates for fielded covered unmanned aircraft systems across the military departments, including any such updates relating to—
operating systems;
autonomy and other capabilities enabled by artificial intelligence and machine learning; or
automatic target recognition.
A plan to ensure the batteries of fielded covered unmanned aircraft systems are fully functional and charged, including a strategy for charging such batteries in extreme and austere environments.
Metrics to assess the readiness of fielded covered unmanned aircraft systems and associated components.
An identification of the command level, unit level, or other organizational level responsible for ensuring such readiness.
A plan to ensure standardized training for the use of covered unmanned aircraft systems and the sustainment of such systems across the military departments.
A strategy for the repair of fielded covered unmanned aircraft systems, including for field-level maintenance, as appropriate.
(c) Updates
On a basis that is not less frequent than once every two years, the Secretary of Defense shall update the strategy under subsection (a).
(d) Submission to Congress
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense completes the strategy under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees such strategy.
(e) Definitions
In this section:
The term covered unmanned aircraft means any unmanned aircraft categorized as Group 1, Group 2, or Group 3 pursuant to the Joint Publication 3–30 of the Department of Defense, titled Joint Air Operations and dated July 25, 2019, or such successor publication.
The terms unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft system have the meanings given such terms in section 130i of title 10, United States Code.