ASSESSMENT OF THE FEASIBILITY OF THE EXPEDITED EQUIPPING OF A NAVY SHIP WITH A VERSION OF THE 155-MILLIMETER ADVANCED GUN SYSTEM.

SEC. 1023. ASSESSMENT OF THE FEASIBILITY OF THE EXPEDITED EQUIPPING OF A NAVY SHIP WITH A VERSION OF THE 155-MILLIMETER ADVANCED GUN SYSTEM. (a) Feasibility Assessment Required.—(1) The Secretary of the Navy shall conduct an assessment of the feasibility of the expedited equipping of a Navy ship in active or inactive service with a version of the 155-millimeter Advanced Gun System that is being developed for the DD(X) next generation, multi-mission, land attack surface combatant vessel. (2) The assessment shall include an analysis of— (A) the actions required to achieve such equipping and the technical and programmatic risks associated with those actions; (B) the plan, schedule, and funding required to achieve such equipping; and (C) the effect (if any) that such equipping might have on the development program and schedule for the DD(X) vessel. (b) Equipping on Expedited Schedule.—The schedule to be considered in the assessment under subsection (a) shall provide for equipping of a ship with a version of the 155-millimeter Advanced Gun System on an expedited schedule that is consistent 116 STAT. 2641with the achievement of safety of operation, but not later than October 1, 2006. (c) Report Required.—The Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results of the assessment under subsection (a). The report shall be submitted at the same time that the President submits the budget for fiscal year 2004 to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code.