Policy on NATO standardization and allied production for next-generation small arms ammunition

be aligned with and incorporated into NATO standardization agreements;

support full interoperability among NATO member countries for logistics, resupply, and coalition operations; and

be capable of manufacture at scale by multiple producers, including producers located within NATO member countries.

formally engaging appropriate counterparts of NATO member countries, NATO standardization bodies, and allied defense ministries to pursue adoption of a standardization agreement for 6.8x51mm ammunition, or any successor next-generation small arms ammunition, with the objective of pursuing standardization on a timeline not exceeding, to the extent feasible, five years after the date of enactment of this Act;

incorporating NATO standardization and allied production objectives as mandatory program requirements, acquisition strategy elements, and milestone decision criteria for 6.8x51mm ammunition; and

ensuring that domestic ammunition design, performance specifications, and production planning for 6.8x51mm ammunition—

obtain, consistent with subchapter I of chapter 275 of title 10, United States Code (and data rights policies issued thereunder), a technical data package and associated unlimited or government-purpose rights with respect to such ammunition sufficient to enable competitive procurement and, where appropriate, allied production;

establish contracting mechanisms to permit licensed or independent production of such ammunition by entities within NATO member countries; and

minimize, to the greatest extent possible and consistent with other applicable provisions of law, proprietary, licensing, or intellectual property restrictions that would unreasonably impede allied production or coalition interoperability.

identifies the specific NATO standardization bodies, forums, and timelines through which standardization described in subsection (b)(1) will be pursued;

describes the industrial base actions required to enable allied production of 6.8x51mm ammunition; and

identifies known barriers to NATO standardization, adoption, or commercialization with respect to such ammunition, whether technical, legal, or contractual, and specific steps and timelines to resolve each.

describes progress toward NATO standardization of 6.8x51mm ammunition;

identifies actions taken to enable allied production of such ammunition;

assesses any remaining barriers to achieving NATO standardization, adoption, or commercialization and steps planned to address them; and

explains any failure to meet the timelines established in the strategy submitted pursuant to subsection (e).

at least one European ally is producing 6.8x51mm ammunition in accordance with the standardization and interoperability objectives of this section; or

no current United States weapons system uses 6.8x51mm ammunition.