ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION OF THE COMBAT VEHICLE AND ARMORED TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLE FLEETS.

SEC. 222. ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION OF THE COMBAT VEHICLE AND ARMORED TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLE FLEETS.(a) Independent Assessment of Strategy Required.—(1) In general.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall enter into a contract with an appropriate entity independent 123 STAT. 2231 of the United States Government to conduct an independent assessment of current, anticipated, and potential research, development, test, and evaluation activities for or applicable to the modernization of the combat vehicle fleet and armored tactical wheeled vehicle fleet of the Department of Defense.(2) Access to information and resources.—The Secretary shall provide the entity with which the Secretary enters into a contract under paragraph (1) with access to such information and resources as are appropriate for the entity to conduct the assessment required by that paragraph.(b) Reports.—(1) In general.—The contract required by subsection (a) shall provide that the entity with which the Secretary enters into a contract under that subsection shall submit to the Secretary and the congressional defense committees—(A) an interim report on the assessment required by that subsection by not later than July 31, 2010; and(B) a final report on such assessment by not later than December 31, 2010.(2) Elements.—Each of the reports required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:(A) A detailed discussion of the requirements and capability needs identified or proposed for current and prospective combat vehicles and armored tactical wheeled vehicles.(B) An identification of capability gaps for combat vehicles and armored tactical wheeled vehicles based on lessons learned from recent conflicts and an assessment of emerging threats.(C) An identification of the critical technology elements or integration risks associated with particular categories of combat vehicles and armored tactical wheeled vehicles, and with particular missions of such vehicles.(D) Recommendations with respect to actions that could be taken to develop and deploy, during the ten-year period beginning on the date of the submittal of the report, critical technology capabilities to address the capability gaps identified pursuant to subparagraph (B), including an identification of high priority science and technology, research and engineering, and prototyping opportunities.(E) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.