NAVY TACTICAL AVIATION PROGRAMS.

SEC. 214. NAVY TACTICAL AVIATION PROGRAMS. (a) A–X Aircraft Program.—The Secretary of Defense shall restructure the acquisition plan for the A–X aircraft program to provide for development, demonstration, and validation of at least two prototypes for each of the two most promising proposals received from concept exploration. In restructuring such acquisition strategy, the Secretary shall require the following: (1) That the prototype designs for such aircraft, to the maximum extent feasible, use technologies for engines, radar, and avionics that are derived from the F–117, A–12, B–2, or F–22 aircraft programs or that are currently available in existing aircraft. (2) That the aircraft design to be used for the program be selected through the use of competitive procedures. (b) FA–18E/F Aircraft Program.—The Secretary of the Navy may not obligate any funds for procurement for the F–18E/F multirole aircraft program until— (1) the Secretary has completed an early operational assessment of the aircraft design based in part on flight performance of not less than two research and development prototype aircraft: and (2) the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation of the Department of Defense has approved the operational assessment plan for the program.