[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3673-S3674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6537. Mr. LEE (for himself and Mr. Curtis) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense

[[Page S3674]]

activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. REPORT ON FIELDING OF LINK 16 TACTICAL DATA LINK 
                   NETWORKING CAPABILITIES ON CERTAIN ARMY 
                   AIRCRAFT.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than December 1, 2026, the 
     Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional 
     defense committees a report on the plans and actions of the 
     Army to field Link 16 tactical data link networking 
     capabilities on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) A description of the current and planned fielding of 
     Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on AH-64E, 
     UH-60M, and CH-47F aircraft.
       (2) An assessment of how Link 16 tactical data link 
     networking capabilities on AH-64E, UH-60M, and CH-47F 
     aircraft contribute to the Army's next generation command and 
     control efforts.
       (3) An assessment of how such capabilities support 
     interoperability among Army rotary-wing aircraft, joint force 
     platforms, and allied and partner platforms.
       (4) An assessment of the operational benefits of fielding 
     Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on UH-60M 
     and CH-47F aircraft, including with respect to safety of 
     flight, situational awareness, contested logistics, and 
     operations involving manned and unmanned platforms operating 
     in shared airspace.
       (5) A description of any technical, operational, 
     programmatic, budgetary, or policy barriers to fielding Link 
     16 tactical data link networking capabilities on UH-60M and 
     CH-47F aircraft.
       (6) A plan and timeline for addressing such barriers and 
     fielding such capabilities, as appropriate.
       (c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
     annex.
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