STUDY REGARDING LIVE-FIRE SURVTVABILITY TESTING OF F–22 AIRCRAFT.

SEC. 254. STUDY REGARDING LIVE-FIRE SURVTVABILITY TESTING OF F–22 AIRCRAFT. (a) Requirement.— The Secretary of Defense shall request the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences— (1) to conduct a study regarding the desirability of exercising the authority under subsection (c) of section 2366 of title 10, United States Code, to waive for the F–22 aircraft program the survivability tests required pursuant to subsection (a) of such section; and (2) to submit to the Secretary and Congress, within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, a report containing the conclusions of the Council regarding the desirability of waiving such tests. (b) Content of Report.— The report shall contain the following matters: (1) Conclusions regarding the practicality of full-scale, full-up testing for the F–22 aircraft program. (2) A discussion of the implications regarding the affordability of the F–22 aircraft program of conducting and of not conducting the survivability tests, including an assessment of the potential life cycle benefits that could be derived from full-scale, full-up live fire testing in comparison to the costs of such testing. (3) A discussion of what, if any, changes of circumstances affecting the F–22 aircraft program have occurred since completion of the milestone II program review to cause the program manager to request a waiver of the survivability tests for the F–22 aircraft program that was not requested at that time. (4) The sufficiency of the F–22 aircraft program testing plans to fulfill the same requirements and purposes as are provided in subsection (e)(3) of section 2366 of title 10, United States Code, for realistic survivability testing for purposes of subsection (a)(1)(A) of such section. (5) Any recommendations regarding survivability testing for the F–22 aircraft program that the Council considers appropriate on the basis of the study.