"This print identifies and delivers upon modern warfighting needs, ensuring that our men and women in uniform are equipped not only with the most exquisite kit, but that the Department is able to sustain its capabilities for generations to come."
Chairman Wittman's Statement as Prepared for Delivery:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thanks to you and the Ranking Member for your leadership in compiling this Year’s National Defense Authorization Act. I’d also like to thank the Subcommittee’s ranking member, and my friend, Don Norcross, for his collaboration in putting together this strong, proactive Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee print.
This year, the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces delivers on sustainment. Specifically, it guarantees the continuation of American air superiority by authorizing the Secretary of Defense to enter into five-year, multi-year procurement contracts for both F-35 and F-15 EX aircraft. It further ensures mission capability by mandating that each procured aircraft comes with a full complement of initial spares, alternate mission equipment, and conformal fuel tanks. An additional $600 million is authorized for spare F-35 parts.
This year, TAL’s portion of the bill contains robust funding for rotorcraft procurement, to include seven additional CH-47 Chinooks, six additional Blackhawks, four more MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, and full funding for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program to continue developing the MV-75 Cheyenne.
Additionally, as small, unmanned aircraft systems prove every day that they are the future of warfighting, this subcommittee print bolsters both our Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) capabilities and our ability to counter adversary systems. These provisions establish standards for a common operating system for sUAS as well as standards for networked, autonomous, kinetic abilities for countering sUAS. We have also prioritized the testing of these drones, requiring the establishment of test and training corridors for UAS and associated capabilities, along with a strategy for sustaining our bourgeoning drone fleet.
On the artillery front, this print addresses 155mm shortfalls by directing the Secretary of the Army to expand and upgrade facilities to reach a target production capacity of 100,000 rounds per month. It also requires the Army to provide a briefing to the committee on its long-term goals for 155mm production.
Seemingly by the day, the capabilities of artificial intelligence continue to grow. As such, the subcommittee focused on delivering autonomy to our warfighters both on the ground and in the air. Accompanying a $20 million funding add for Collaborative
Combat Aircraft propulsion technology integration, the Navy is directed to provide a briefing outlining its acquisition strategy for CCAs. The Army is also directed to provide a briefing on its acquisition strategy for commercially available ground autonomy solutions.
Our military’s greatest asset is its people, and we owe it to them to set them up for success on the battlefield. This print identifies and delivers upon modern warfighting needs, ensuring that our men and women in uniform are equipped not only with the most exquisite kit, but that the Department is able to sustain its capabilities for generations to come.
