[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9780 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9780
To direct the Secretary of Defense to meet certain requirements
relating to the divestment, preservation, and inventories of A-10
aircraft, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 20, 2026
Mr. Hamadeh of Arizona (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr.
McCormick, Mr. Van Orden, Mr. Graves, and Mr. Mills) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services,
and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Defense to meet certain requirements
relating to the divestment, preservation, and inventories of A-10
aircraft, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``BRRRRT Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO DIVESTMENT, PRESERVATION, AND
INVENTORIES OF A-10 AIRCRAFT.
(a) Limitation on Divestment of A-10 Aircraft.--
(1) Limitation.--None of the funds authorized to be
appropriated or otherwise made available for any of fiscal
years 2027 through 2033 for the Department of Defense may be
obligated or expended to retire, divest, or place in storage
any A-10 aircraft in a manner that would reduce the total A-10
inventory, including combat-coded, training-coded, test-coded,
and backup aircraft, below the level necessary to sustain
operational employment, pilot production, operational test, and
demonstration requirements through fiscal year 2033.
(2) Minimum inventory requirement and fleet composition.--
(A) In general.--In fiscal year 2027 and each
subsequent fiscal year, the Secretary of the Air Force
shall maintain in the inventory of the Air Force the
greater of--
(i) 126 A-10 aircraft; or
(ii) such higher number of A-10 aircraft as
the Secretary determines appropriate.
(B) Fleet composition.--The A-10 aircraft fleet, as
described in subparagraph (A), shall consist of not
fewer than--
(i) four active units operating under a
designed operational capability statement and
Ready Aircrew Program tasking memorandum in
which close air support, forward air
controller-airborne, and combat search and
rescue support, including the Sandy mission,
are primary missions; or
(ii) five units drawn from the active duty,
Air National Guard, or Air Force Reserve
operating under designed operational capability
statements and Ready Aircrew Program tasking
memorandums in which close air support, forward
air controller-airborne, and combat search and
rescue support, including the Sandy mission,
are primary missions.
(3) Prohibition on presumptive reductions.--None of the
funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise
made available for fiscal year 2027 or any subsequent fiscal
year for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended
to reduce, eliminate, deactivate, or fail to restore unit
personnel, pilot training capacity, operational test capacity,
depot maintenance capacity, or weapon system sustainment
activities for A-10 aircraft in a manner that presumes future
congressional authority to divest such aircraft.
(4) Reconstitution of previously reduced capacity.--With
respect to any instance occurring after October 1, 2025, and
before the date of the enactment of this Act, in which the
Department of the Air Force reduced, eliminated, deactivated,
or transferred depot maintenance capacity, sustainment
functions, training functions, or operational test functions
for the A-10 fleet in anticipation of divestment or planned
retirement of such aircraft, the Secretary of the Air Force
shall, not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, submit to the congressional defense committees a
plan to restore or reconstitute sufficient capacity to carry
out this section and maintain the operational viability of the
A-10 fleet through fiscal year 2033.
(b) Certification of Fully Capable Replacement Before Further
Divestment of A-10 Aircraft.--
(1) Certification required.--The Secretary of Defense may
waive one or more of the requirements under subsection (a) with
respect to a fiscal year only if the Secretary certifies to the
congressional defense committees that a fully capable
replacement for the A-10 aircraft fleet has achieved full
operational capability.
(2) Elements.--The certification required under subsection
(a) shall include the following:
(A) A determination that the replacement aircraft
or combination of systems--
(i) is operationally fielded and available
for tasking;
(ii) includes the qualified pilots,
maintainers, and support personnel necessary to
perform the missions currently assigned to the
A-10 fleet and to satisfy the requirements of
clauses (iv) and (v);
(iii) includes the training, sustainment,
depot, and infrastructure capacity necessary to
support continued operations;
(iv) is capable of performing combat search
and rescue support, including the Sandy mission
and Rescue Mission Commander role, forward air
controller-airborne, close air support,
personnel recovery support, and armed overwatch
at a level necessary to satisfy the documented
requirements of supported forces in operational
plans, taskings, and the concurrence required
under subparagraph (E); and
(v) has demonstrated the ability to provide
persistent armed overwatch, air-ground
integration, and survivability characteristics
appropriate to the missions for which the A-10
is currently employed.
(B) A detailed crosswalk identifying the specific
aircraft, systems, units, or combinations thereof that
the Secretary of Defense determines will replace the
principal operational effects historically provided by
the A-10 fleet. The crosswalk shall address, at a
minimum--
(i) combat search and rescue support,
including the Sandy mission and Rescue Mission
Commander role;
(ii) forward air controller-airborne
functions;
(iii) close air support persistence and
responsiveness for forces in contact;
(iv) armed overwatch and air-ground
integration in dynamic land and maritime
targeting environments;
(v) survivability and mission effectiveness
in the operational environments for which the
A-10 is currently employed; and
(vi) the training, sustainment, and manning
structure necessary to generate and employ such
replacement capability.
(C) A cost-comparison and mission demand analysis
that weighs the cost per operational hour and demands
on other airframes and personnel to fill the A-10
mission set versus such costs and demands assuming the
continued employment of A-10 aircraft.
(D) An outline of the steps and timeline for the
hand-off of A-10 missions and any plans to create,
adapt, and train on those missions and close air
support, combat search and rescue, and rescue mission
commander functions and doctrines.
(E) The written concurrence of--
(i) the Secretary of the Army, with respect
to whether the replacement aircraft or
combination of systems is sufficient to meet
the Army's requirements for the A-10 mission
set;
(ii) the Secretary of the Navy, acting
through the Commandant of the Marine Corps,
with respect to whether the replacement
aircraft or combination of systems is
sufficient to meet the Marine Corps
requirements for the A-10 mission set,
including tactical recovery of aircraft and
personnel requirements; and
(iii) the Commander of United States
Special Operations Command, with respect to
whether the replacement aircraft or combination
of systems is sufficient to support special
operations requirements for the A-10 mission
set.
(F) From each official specified in subparagraph
(E), a written determination as to whether the
replacement aircraft or combination of systems is
sufficient to support combat search and rescue support,
including the Sandy mission and Rescue Mission
Commander role, where applicable to the supported
force.
(3) Treatment of replaced missions.--For purposes of
paragraph (2), a mission may not be treated as replaced merely
because it is listed as a secondary, collateral, or additional
mission of a platform or unit whose designed operational
capability statement or Ready Aircrew Program tasking
memorandum is principally oriented toward a primary mission.
(4) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days before submitting a
certification under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense
shall provide to the congressional defense committees a
briefing on the basis and findings of such certification.
(c) Preservation of Certain Retired A-10 Aircraft for
Recoverability, Contingency Use, and Potential Foreign Military
Transfer.--
(1) Preservation requirement.--Except as provided in
paragraph (6), the Secretary of the Air Force shall preserve
each covered A-10 aircraft retired during or after fiscal year
2027 in a condition that enables such aircraft to be
reconstituted for operational use, contingency use, training,
testing, heritage demonstration, or transfer to an eligible
foreign partner.
(2) Minimum preservation standard.--The Secretary of the
Air Force shall ensure that each covered A-10 aircraft
preserved under paragraph (1)--
(A) is maintained in a recoverable storage
condition;
(B) retains all major systems, mission equipment,
and structural components necessary to permit return to
service, reconstitution for training or operational
use, or preparation for transfer to an eligible foreign
partner;
(C) is not demilitarized, mutilated, or otherwise
altered in a manner that would unreasonably impair its
recoverability or future transferability;
(D) retains, to the maximum extent practicable,
records relating to flying hours, service life
consumption, structural condition, modifications,
maintenance history, and combat or operational use; and
(E) remains identifiable by tail number and
preservation status in the inventory and storage
records of the Department of the Air Force.
(3) Prohibition on cannibalization and parting out.--Except
as provided in paragraph (6), no covered A-10 aircraft
preserved under this subsection may be cannibalized, parted
out, or used as a source of spare parts if such aircraft--
(A) has received wing replacement or service-life
extension modifications;
(B) retains projected flying hours exceeding the
threshold specified in paragraph (9)(B); or
(C) has been identified by the Secretary of the Air
Force as a viable candidate for reconstitution,
contingency activation, foreign military sale, foreign
military financing-supported transfer, or other
security cooperation purpose.
(4) Limitation on final induction or irreversible
processing pending roadmap.--
(A) In general.--Until the date on which the
Secretary of the Air Force submits to the congressional
defense committees a roadmap for the sustainment of the
A-10 aircraft fleet and related capabilities, none of
the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise
made available for any of fiscal years 2027 through
2033 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or
expended--
(i) to place any retired or retiring A-10
aircraft into a storage, reclamation, excess,
or disposal status at the 309th Aerospace
Maintenance and Regeneration Group in a manner
that would materially impair the
recoverability, reconstitution, training use,
testing use, heritage demonstration use, or
potential foreign transfer of such aircraft,
including placement into any category of
storage or processing that is equivalent in
effect to nonrecoverable reclamation, excess
disposal, or broad parts-harvest status; or
(ii) to take any other covered action with
respect to an A-10 aircraft.
(B) Covered actions.--For purposes of subparagraph
(A), a covered action includes--
(i) categorization of an A-10 aircraft in a
manner equivalent to parts reclamation or
excess disposal status;
(ii) downgrading an A-10 aircraft from a
recoverable or inviolate storage status;
(iii) demilitarization, mutilation, or
cannibalization of an A-10 aircraft;
(iv) removal of major systems, mission
equipment, structural components, or other
items in a manner that would materially reduce
the future utility of the aircraft; or
(v) any other induction, storage, or
processing decision that presumes disposal,
reclamation, or nonrecoverable status before
completion of the roadmap required under
subparagraph (A).
(C) Temporary custody and recoverable storage
pending roadmap.--Nothing in this paragraph shall be
construed to prohibit temporary custody, movement,
inspection, preservation, or placement of an A-10
aircraft into a recoverable storage condition pending
submission of the roadmap required under subparagraph
(A). During the period described in such subparagraph,
any A-10 aircraft transferred to the 309th Aerospace
Maintenance and Regeneration Group shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, be maintained only in a
recoverable storage status and may not be processed
into a reclamation or excess disposal status.
(D) Roadmap.--The roadmap required under
subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum, a
contingency plan for keeping the total A-10 inventory
at the level necessary to sustain operational
employment, pilot production, operational test, and
demonstration requirements through fiscal year 2037.
Such plan shall include--
(i) identified decision points; and
(ii) an assessment of the cost and
reconstitution impacts that would result if the
Secretary of the Air Force retroactively
decided to reconstitute and sustain the A-10
aircraft mission following its termination.
(5) Priority for arizona storage and recoverability.--To
the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary of the Air Force
shall preserve covered A-10 aircraft required to be retained
under this section at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, or
at another facility capable of maintaining such aircraft in
recoverable storage status.
(6) Exception.--The Secretary of the Air Force may waive
the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (5) with respect to
a specific covered A-10 aircraft only if the Secretary
certifies in writing to the congressional defense committees
that--
(A) the aircraft is no longer airworthy or
structurally viable for economical recovery, training
use, testing use, heritage use, or foreign transfer;
(B) the aircraft is not reasonably required for
contingency reserve capacity, training support,
operational testing, heritage demonstration, or
security cooperation purposes; and
(C) disposal or cannibalization of the aircraft
will not materially reduce the Department's ability to
reconstitute A-10 capacity, preserve representative
aircraft with significant remaining service life, or
support a potential foreign military transfer or sale.
(7) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through
September 30, 2033, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report on covered A-
10 aircraft. Each report shall include--
(A) the number of aircraft retired, stored,
preserved, cannibalized, transferred, or disposed of
during the preceding year;
(B) the number of preserved aircraft that received
wing replacement or wing upgrade modifications;
(C) the projected remaining flying hours of each
preserved aircraft, or by category if necessary for
security or administrative reasons;
(D) the status of preservation and recoverability
actions for each such aircraft;
(E) any aircraft assessed as viable candidates for
foreign military sale, transfer, training use,
operational test use, or contingency activation;
(F) any waiver exercised under paragraph (6),
including the justification for such waiver;
(G) the tail numbers, current location, and current
storage or preservation status of all A-10 aircraft
that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are
retired, retiring, transferred to, or pending transfer
to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration
Group;
(H) identification of which such aircraft have
received wing replacement or wing upgrade
modifications;
(I) identification of which such aircraft are
assessed as retaining projected flying hours exceeding
the threshold specified in paragraph (9)(B); and
(J) identification of which such aircraft are
assessed as viable candidates for reconstitution,
contingency activation, training use, test use,
heritage demonstration, or foreign military sale or
transfer.
(8) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall
be construed to require the Secretary of the Air Force to
return any aircraft to active service or to transfer any
aircraft to a foreign country in violation of other applicable
provisions of law, export control requirements, end-use
monitoring requirements, or national security considerations.
(9) Covered a-10 aircraft defined.--In this subsection, the
term ``covered A-10 aircraft'' means an A-10 aircraft that, as
of the date on which the aircraft is proposed for retirement,
transfer, or placement into storage--
(A) has received wing replacement or wing upgrade
modifications intended to extend the service life of
the aircraft;
(B) retains not fewer than 1,500 projected flying
hours of remaining service life, as determined by the
Secretary of the Air Force using the most current
structural and airworthiness data available; or
(C) is assessed by the Secretary of the Air Force,
in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, as a
viable candidate for reconstitution, contingency
activation, security cooperation use, foreign military
sale, or transfer under the Arms Export Control Act or
any other provision of law.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SUSTAINMENT OF A-10 AIRCRAFT AND
RELATED TRAINING.
(a) Limitations on Availability of Funds.--
(1) Limitation on divestment activities.--Not more than 85
percent of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise
made available for any of fiscal year 2027 through 2033 for the
Department of Defense for covered divestment activities with
respect to the A-10 fleet may be obligated or expended to carry
out such an activity until the Secretary of the Air Force
submits to the congressional defense committees--
(A) the roadmap required under subsection (d); and
(B) a certification that such roadmap addresses
each requirement under subsection (b).
(2) Limitation on training transition from davis-monthan
air force base.--None of the funds authorized to be
appropriated or otherwise made available for any of fiscal
years 2027 through 2033 for the Department of Defense may be
obligated or expended to transition covered training functions
at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, to another military
installation unless the Secretary of the Air Force submits to
the congressional defense committees a certification that--
(A) continuation of such functions at Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base is not feasible without carrying out a
major military construction project; and
(B) the transition of such functions to such other
military installation would not materially increase
costs, delay operational availability, reduce local
access to qualified personnel, degrade training
quality, or result in the violation of any requirement
under subsection (b).
(3) Limitation on reduction of functions at nellis air
force base.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or
otherwise made available for any of fiscal years 2027 through
2033 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended
to reduce, eliminate, deactivate, transfer, or fail to restore
the weapons instructor course for A-10 aircraft offered through
the United States Air Force Weapons School located at Nellis
Air Force Base, Nevada, or any such successor course, in a
manner that presumes future congressional authority to divest
the A-10 fleet.
(b) Sustainment Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall
maintain sufficient training capacity, development, test, and
evaluation capacity, depot-level maintenance and repair
capacity, supply, logistics, and contractor capacity, and other
sustainment-related capacity to ensure the A-10 fleet remains
operationally viable through fiscal year 2033 (in this section,
referred to as the ``covered period''), including with respect
to each mission and capability of such fleet as of the date of
the enactment of this Act (including combat search and rescue
missions).
(2) Certain minimum requirements.--The capacity required
under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(A) A requirement that, on an annual basis during
the covered period, not fewer than 14 pilots receive
the qualifications, or requalifications, necessary for
the operation of A-10 aircraft.
(B) A requirement that, on an annual basis during
the covered period, not fewer than four officers
receive advanced instructor qualifications, or
requalifications, through the weapons instructor course
for A-10 aircraft offered through the United States Air
Force Weapons School.
(C) A requirement that, for the duration of the
covered period, the Secretary maintains a fighter pilot
specialty community with respect to the A-10 mission
set, including the Air Force Specialty Code 11F3B (or
any successor specialty code or designation), in a
manner that establishes the A-10 mission set as a
primary area of pilot training, operational experience,
and career development rather than a secondary or
collateral area.
(3) Preservation of functions at nellis air force base.--In
carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, maintain at Nellis Air Force Base,
Nevada, the weapons instructor course for A-10 aircraft offered
through the United States Air Force Weapons School and
associated support functions, including access to ramp space,
hangars, office space, simulator or mission-planning
facilities, ranges, and other relevant infrastructure as
necessary to meet the requirement under paragraph (1).
(4) Preservation of functions at davis-monthan air force
base.--In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall, to
the maximum extent practicable, maintain at Davis-Monthan Air
Force Base, Arizona, the core ground-based training system,
simulators, and other training infrastructure necessary for
pilots to receive qualification or requalification for the
operation of A-10 aircraft as necessary to meet the requirement
under paragraph (1).
(5) Formal training unit.--In carrying out this subsection,
the Secretary shall maintain a formal training unit of the Air
Force for providing to pilots the qualifications necessary for
the operation of A-10 aircraft, and a process for the
requalification of pilots formerly so qualified.
(6) Use of existing or repurposed infrastructure.--In
carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to use
existing or repurposed facilities, hangars, ramp space, and
other support infrastructure for the purpose of meeting the
requirement under paragraph (1) and may not initiate any new
military construction project for such purpose unless the
Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees
that--
(A) existing or repurposed facilities are
insufficient for such purpose;
(B) the proposed military construction project is
the minimum cost necessary to meet such requirement;
and
(C) the proposed military construction project will
not materially interfere with the beddown and mission
requirements of the 492d Special Operations Wing at
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
(7) Budget materials.--Concurrent with the submission to
Congress of a budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31,
United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2033,
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report on the amounts necessary to
implement this subsection.
(c) Annual Report on A-10 Sustainment.--
(1) Annual report.--Not later than March 1, 2027, and
annually thereafter until March 1, 2034, the Secretary of the
Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees
a report describing the extent to which the Department of the
Air Force met the requirements under subsection (b) during the
preceding fiscal year.
(2) Elements.--Each report required under paragraph (1)
shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(A) An identification of the number of pilots that
received the qualifications necessary for the operation
of A-10 aircraft during the preceding fiscal year,
disaggregated by whether such qualifications were an
initial qualification or a requalification.
(B) An identification of the number of officers
that received advanced instructor qualifications
through the weapons instructor course for A-10 aircraft
offered through the United States Air Force Weapons
School, disaggregated by whether such qualifications
were an initial qualification or a requalification.
(C) A description of the status of actions taken to
meet the requirement under subsection (b)(5) during the
preceding fiscal year, and any related instructor
shortfalls.
(D) A description of the status of operational test
and evaluation capacity with respect to the A-10 fleet,
including major limitations affecting airworthiness,
weapons integration, tactics development, or mission
effectiveness.
(E) A comparative analysis of research,
development, test, and evaluation funding and
resourcing for the A-10 fleet during the preceding 10
fiscal years, including an identification of--
(i) any major test, evaluation,
modernization, or capability-integration
efforts that were delayed, denied, cancelled,
or not pursued;
(ii) the stated basis for each such
decision; and
(iii) an assessment of whether
developmental or operational test capacity was
materially constrained by underfunding,
understaffing, or the rejection of otherwise
feasible low-cost or no-additional-cost
efforts.
(F) The status of programmed depot-level
maintenance and repair with respect to A-10 aircraft or
related infrastructure, and any resulting effect on the
ability of the Department to meet the requirements
under subsection (b).
(G) The status of logistics, supply, contractor
maintenance, and other sustainment functions for the A-
10 fleet, and any resulting effect on the ability of
the Department to meet the requirements under
subsection (b).
(H) An assessment as to whether the Department met
the requirements under subsection (b) during the
preceding fiscal year.
(I) A description of any shortfall, delay, or other
deviation resulting in a failure to meet any such
requirement, including any corrective action planned or
underway.
(d) Roadmap for A-10 Fleet Sustainment.--
(1) Roadmap required.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air
Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a
roadmap setting forth--
(A) proposed actions to meet each requirement under
subsection (b); and
(B) a contingency plan for the sustainment of the
A-10 fleet through fiscal year 2037, including an
identification of decision points relating to such
extended sustainment and an assessment of related costs
and reconstitution effects.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 15 days after the date of the
submission of the roadmap under paragraph (1), the Secretary of
the Air Force shall provide to the congressional defense
committees a briefing on such roadmap and any anticipated
material shortfall in meeting a requirement under subsection
(b).
(3) Annual updates.--Not later than one year after the date
of the submission of the roadmap under paragraph (1), and
annually thereafter until September 30, 2033, the Secretary of
the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a written update to such roadmap.
(4) GAO review.--If the Secretary of the Air Force does not
submit to the congressional defense committees the roadmap
required under paragraph (1) by the deadline specified in such
paragraph, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
(A) conduct a review of the compliance with this
section by the Department; and
(B) not later than 120 days after such review is
complete, submit to the congressional defense
committees a report containing the results of such
review.
(e) Program To Preserve Knowledge and History Relating to A-10
Aircraft.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall
establish a program to preserve technical and historical
knowledge relating to the operation and sustainment of the A-10
fleet.
(2) Lead entity.--The Director of the Air Force Historical
Research Agency shall serve as the lead entity carrying out the
program under paragraph (1), in coordination with the Commander
of the Air Combat Command, the head of the National Museum of
the United States Air Force, and such other organizations of
the Department of the Air Force as the Secretary of the Air
Force determines appropriate.
(3) Required activities.--The program established under
paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum the following
activities:
(A) The collection of oral histories relating to
the A-10 fleet from pilots, advanced instructor-
qualified aircrew, maintainers, joint terminal attack
controllers, and other personnel involved in the
operation (including operational support for combat
search and rescue missions) or sustainment of aircraft
within such fleet.
(B) The collection and preservation of records
associated with the A-10 fleet, including technical
data, operational tactics, weapons integration records,
upgrade and modification history, and records relating
to the sustainment of aircraft within such fleet.
(C) The digital archiving of materials collected
under subparagraphs (A) and (B) in a searchable
repository accessible to appropriate users within the
Department of Defense.
(D) The identification of lessons learned pursuant
to the materials so collected.
(E) The development of recommendations for
collecting, preserving, and transferring knowledge
relating to the A-10 fleet with respect to design,
doctrine, training, and sustainment activities relating
to successor aircraft.
(4) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report
containing a summary of--
(A) the activities carried out under the program
established under paragraph (1);
(B) the status of the archive established pursuant
to paragraph (3)(C); and
(C) the principal lessons learned identified
pursuant to paragraph (3)(D).
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered divestment activity'', with respect
to the A-10 fleet, means any activity to transition, replace,
retire, deactivate, or otherwise reduce such fleet or the
capabilities thereof, including with respect to training,
personnel, and resources for the sustainment and operation of
such fleet, below the levels required under subsection (b).
(2) The term ``covered training functions'' means functions
that comprise the primary source of providing to pilots and
other aircrew the training and qualifications necessary for the
operation of A-10 aircraft.
(3) The term ``depot-level maintenance and repair'' has the
meaning given such term in section 2460 of title 10, United
States Code.
(4) The term ``military construction project'' and
``military installation'' have the meanings given such terms in
section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.
SEC. 4. RECONSTITUTION OF A-10 DEMONSTRATION TEAM.
(a) Reconstitution Required.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall
reconstitute and operate an A-10 demonstration team to support public
outreach, recruiting, heritage, and official commemorative events
associated with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United
States.
(b) Purpose.--The demonstration team reconstituted and operated
under subsection (a) shall--
(1) honor the combat legacy and service history of the A-10
Thunderbolt II;
(2) promote pride in American airpower and the service of
the men and women of the United States Air Force;
(3) support appropriate public events, airshows, military
ceremonies, and official anniversary observances connected to
the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States; and
(4) preserve and showcase the heritage of the A-10
community and the A-10 mission set.
(c) Team Composition.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall designate such aircraft, aircrew, maintainers, support personnel,
and associated equipment as the Secretary determines necessary to
establish and operate the demonstration team.
(d) Limitation.--Aircraft designated for the demonstration team
under this section--
(1) shall be drawn from A-10 aircraft otherwise retained in
the inventory of the Air Force; and
(2) may not be retired, divested, or transferred solely on
the basis of designation for demonstration purposes during the
period in which the team operates.
(e) Briefing.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to
the congressional defense committees a briefing on the implementation
of this section. Such briefing shall include--
(1) the number of aircraft to be assigned to the
demonstration team;
(2) the expected cost and source of funds for such team;
(3) the anticipated schedule of appearances and
commemorative events;
(4) the basing location of the team;
(5) any safety, maintenance, and sustainment requirements
associated with operation of the team; and
(6) an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of
rebasing the demonstration team at Davis-Monthan Air Force
Base, Arizona.
(f) Termination.--The authority to operate a demonstration team
under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2033.
SEC. 5. PLAN FOR COMPETITIVE EXPERIMENTATION RELATING TO AUTONOMOUS AND
NONTRADITIONAL CAPABILITIES RELEVANT TO THE A-10 MISSION
SET.
(a) Plan Required.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall develop a
plan to carry out competitive experimentation, prototyping, and
operational assessment of autonomous, semi-autonomous, artificial
intelligence-enabled, and adjunct aircraft capabilities relevant to the
A-10 mission set.
(b) Elements.--The plan under subsection (a) shall include the
following:
(1) Appropriate opportunities for participation by
nontraditional defense contractors, commercial technology
firms, venture-backed defense firms, and other private-sector
entities capable of rapidly developing relevant hardware,
software, autonomy, sensing, communications, or mission system
capabilities.
(2) Measures to ensure operational experimentation is
conducted in a manner consistent with meaningful human command
and control, by a qualified military aviator, over mission-
critical functions, including target engagement, weapons
release, mission abort, and such other functions as the
Secretary of the Air Force determines appropriate.
(3) An estimated annual budget for implementing the plan.
(4) Consideration of how to make available to a qualified
United States entity a limited number of A-10 aircraft,
components, or associated support equipment for the sole
purpose of research, development, test, and evaluation
activities relevant to the A-10 mission set, autonomous or
semi-autonomous aircraft integration, mission systems
development, digital battlefield communications, or other
related capabilities.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report on the plan developed under subsection (a).
(d) Qualified United States Entity.--In this section, the term
``qualified United States entity'' means--
(1) a nontraditional defense contractor;
(2) a traditional defense contractor;
(3) a federally funded research and development center;
(4) a university-affiliated research center; or
(5) another domestic entity the Secretary determines is
capable of carrying out the activities described in subsection
(a) in a manner consistent with national security and public
safety.
SEC. 6. REPORT ON A-10 COMBAT LEGACY, CURRENT OPERATIONAL USE, AND
MODERNIZATION OUTLOOK.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The combat record of the A-10 aircraft from Operation
Desert Storm through current operations, including recent
support to the recovery of downed aircrew in Operation Epic
Fury, and the continued relevance of lessons derived from close
air support, armed overwatch, air-ground integration, combat
search and rescue support, and operations to secure key
maritime approaches, including the Strait of Hormuz.
(2) It is important to preserve operational knowledge
resident in the A-10 enterprise and applying such knowledge to
future force design, doctrine, training, capability
development, and incremental modernization efforts that may
improve the operational return on continued sustainment of the
A-10 program.
(b) Report.--Not later than January 15, 2027, the Secretary of
Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Air Force, and the
Commander, Air Combat Command, and the Commander, U.S. Central Command,
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and
House of Representatives a report on the combat employment of the A-10
aircraft from Operation Desert Storm through current operations,
including how lessons learned from such employment should be preserved
and applied to the future of the A-10 mission set, successor force
design, doctrine, training, and capability development. The report
should include the following:
(1) A description of the combat employment of the A-10
aircraft in major operations from Operation Desert Storm
through current operations.
(2) Lessons learned for close air support, armed overwatch,
battlefield communications, weapons integration, pilot
training, and air-ground coordination.
(3) Lessons learned from the use of the A-10 aircraft in
combat search and rescue support, including the Sandy mission,
and the relevance of such lessons to future personnel recovery
and armed overwatch concepts.
(4) An assessment of the extent to which elements of the A-
10 mission set, command-and-control methods, and air-ground
integration experience may inform future force design.
(5) Recommendations for preserving, adapting, or
transferring relevant A-10 operational knowledge to future
doctrine, training, and capability development.
(6) An assessment of whether currently programmed or
planned Air Force capabilities are expected to replicate or
improve upon the principal operational effects historically
provided by the A-10 aircraft as rescue mission commander,
close air support, armed overwatch, forward air controller-
airborne, and personnel recovery support missions.
(7) An assessment of the applicability of A-10 operational
lessons to human-machine teaming, autonomous collaborative or
adjunct aircraft, artificial intelligence-enabled mission
planning and targeting support, digital battlefield
communications, distributed air-ground integration, and other
emerging capabilities.
(8) Recommendations for operational experimentation or
testing using A-10 units, preserved A-10 mission
infrastructure, or relevant training and sustainment
organizations to evaluate emerging capabilities applicable to
the A-10 mission set, including opportunities to integrate
private-sector and nontraditional defense partners.
(9) An assessment of recent and potential incremental
modernization options for the A-10 aircraft, including
electronic warfare capabilities, decoy or stand-in effects
delivery, aerial refueling enhancements, digital
communications, sensor integration, precision weapons
integration, survivability improvements, open-systems
architecture, and human-machine teaming applications, and
whether such options could improve the operational return on
continued sustainment of the A-10 program.
(c) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (b) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
SEC. 7. BRIEFING ON FEASIBILITY OF FOREIGN TRANSFER, SECURITY
COOPERATION, AND CONTINGENCY BASING OPTIONS FOR SURPLUS
A-10 AIRCRAFT.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Surplus A-10 aircraft may retain value for security
cooperation, partner burden-sharing, contingency operations, or
recoverable storage arrangements.
(2) It is possible that such aircraft could be transferred
to eligible foreign partners through existing authorities,
maintained in recoverable status for future foreign military
sales or excess defense articles consideration, or used to
support contingency basing or coalition interoperability
requirements.
(b) Briefing.--Not later than January 15, 2027, the Secretary of
Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Air Force and the
Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and in
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall provide to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives
a briefing on the feasibility of transferring surplus A-10 aircraft to
eligible foreign partners, or otherwise maintaining such aircraft in
recoverable status to support future security cooperation or
contingency operations. The briefing shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the feasibility of transfer through
foreign military sales, excess defense articles, or other
appropriate authorities.
(2) An identification of allies or partners that may be
suitable candidates to operate, host, or support surplus A-10
aircraft.
(3) An assessment of training, maintenance, sustainment,
basing, interoperability, and force protection requirements
associated with any such transfer or arrangement.
(4) An assessment of export-control, technology security,
and end-use monitoring considerations.
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