B-1B BOMBER AIRCRAFT PROGRAM.

SEC. 132. B-1B BOMBER AIRCRAFT PROGRAM. (a) Amount for Procurement.—Of the amount authorized to be appropriated pursuant to section 103(1) for the Air Force for fiscal year 1994 for procurement of aircraft, not more than $272,300,000 shall be available for the B-1B bomber program. (b) Requirement for Test Plan.—(1) The Secretary of the Air Force shall develop a plan to test the operational readiness rate of one B-1B bomber wing that could be sustained if that wing were provided the planned complement of base-level spare parts, maintenance equipment, maintenance manpower, and logistic support equipment. (2) The plan shall also test the operational readiness rates of one squadron of that wing operating at a remote operating location, for a period of not less than two weeks, in a manner consistent with Air Force plans for the use of B-1B bombers in a conventional conflict. (3) The remote operating location selected for purposes of paragraph (2) shall be at a base other than a base containing or servicing heavy bomber aircraft. (4) The test plan under paragraph (1) shall be designed to be carried out over a period of not less than six months ending not later than December 1, 1995. (c) Report on the Test Plan.—(1) The Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the proposed test plan not later than March 31, 1994. The report shall include a copy of the proposed test plan. (2) The report on the test plan shall include the following elements: (A) A description of the plans of the Air Force for meeting the test requirements specified in subsection (b), including the period during which the test is proposed to be conducted under this section. (B) A description of the predicted contribution to mission capable rates that planned reliability and maintenance improvements are expected to make. (C) A description of the predicted effects of the test on the readiness rates of the B-1B wings not participating in the test if the test is initiated between the date of the enactment of this Act and June 1, 1995. (D) The earliest date feasible for the implementation of the test plan if a test within the period specified in the description under subparagraph (A) is predicted under subparagraph (C) to have an adverse effect on B-1B fleet readiness. (d) Implementation of Test Plan.—(1) The Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees of the start of the test period. (2) The Secretary shall complete the implementation of the test plan required under subsection (b) not later than December 1, 1995. (e) Waiver Authority.—(1)(A) The Secretary of the Air Force may postpone implementation of the test plan to a period ending after December 1, 1995, if the Secretary determines that, as a result of implementing the planned test within the period specified in subsection (b)(4), the ability of the Air Force to meet operational 107 STAT. 1571readiness rates for B-1B units not participating in the test would be reduced to unacceptable levels. (B) If the Secretary of the Air Force proposes to use the authority provided in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, before using that authority, submit to the congressional defense committees notice in writing of the proposed postponement of the test plan. If the test plan report required under subsection (c) has not been submitted as of the time of the decision to postpone implementation of the test plan, that notice shall be submitted as part of the submission of the test plan report. (2) (A) The Secretary of Defense may waive implementation of the test plan if the Secretary determines that implementing the test plan would not be in the national security interest of the United States. (B) If the Secretary of Defense proposes to use the waiver authority provided in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, before using that authority, submit to the congressional defense committees notice in writing of the proposed waiver. Upon using that waiver authority, the Secretary shall, not later than 30 days after the date on which the waiver authority is used, submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth a detailed explanation of the reasons for the waiver. (f) Report on Test Results.—(1) Unless the Secretary exercises the waiver authority provided in subsection (e)(1)(B), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees, and to the Comptroller General of the United States, a report on the results obtained from implementation of the test. The report shall be submitted within 90 days after the completion of the test. (2) The report required under paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of— (A) the extent to which the provision of planned spares, maintenance manpower, and logistics support will enable the B-1B force to achieve the planned operational readiness rate; and (B) if the planned readiness rate cannot be achieved with the planned level of spares, maintenance manpower, and logistics support— (i) an estimate of the operational readiness rate that can be achieved with the planned level of spares, maintenance manpower, and logistics support; (ii) an estimate of the additional amounts of spares, maintenance manpower, and logistics support and the added costs thereof, to achieve the planned operational readiness rate; and (iii) an enumeration of those specific factors limiting the achievable operational readiness rate which it would be cost-effective to mitigate, and the increase in operational readiness that would result therefrom.