LIMITATION ON FUNDS FOR PROCUREMENT OF F–16 AIRCRAFT PENDING APPROVAL OF CERTAIN PLANS RESPECTING AIR-LAND FIRE SUPPORT FOR GROUND COMBAT FORCES

SEC. 166. LIMITATION ON FUNDS FOR PROCUREMENT OF F–16 AIRCRAFT PENDING APPROVAL OF CERTAIN PLANS RESPECTING AIR-LAND FIRE SUPPORT FOR GROUND COMBAT FORCES (a) Limitation on Expenditures for F–16 Aircraft.—If by April 1, 1990, the Secretary of Defense does not submit to the congresssional defense committees a report in writing containing a certification described in subsection (b), then after that date funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may not be expended for the procurement of F–16 aircraft until such a report is submitted to those committees. (b) Certification,—A certification referred to in subsection (a) is a certification by the Secretary of Defense of both of the following: (1) That the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation of the Department of Defense— (A) has approved a test plan for the evaluation of systems for providing airland fire support for ground combat forces systems that is sufficiently flexible to allow for evaluation of any current system and any feasible future system for such purpose; and (B) has approved a test plan for the evaluation of both the upgrade program proposed for the F–16 aircraft and the upgrade program proposed for the A–10 aircraft for close air support (including night time operations). (2) That any fixed-wing aircraft operated after July I, 1990, at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, will be fully integrated into the range instrumentation system to the same extent as attack helicopters.