DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY ON UNMANNED SYSTEMS.

SEC. 941. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY ON UNMANNED SYSTEMS.(a) Policy Required.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop a policy, to be applicable throughout the Department of Defense, on research, development, test and evaluation, procurement, and operation of unmanned systems.(b) Elements.—The policy required by subsection (a) shall include or address the following:(1) An identification of missions and mission requirements, including mission requirements for the military departments and joint mission requirements, for which unmanned systems may replace manned systems.(2) A preference for unmanned systems in acquisition programs for new systems, including a requirement under any such program for the development of a manned system for a certification that an unmanned system is incapable of meeting program requirements.(3) An assessment of the circumstances under which it would be appropriate to pursue joint development and procurement of unmanned systems and components of unmanned systems.(4) The transition of unmanned systems unique to one military department to joint systems, when appropriate.(5) An organizational structure for effective management, coordination, and budgeting for the development and procurement of unmanned systems, including an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of designating a single department or other element of the Department of Defense to act as executive agent for the Department on unmanned systems.(6) The integration of unmanned and manned systems to enhance support of the missions identified in paragraph (1).(7) Such other matters that the Secretary of Defense considers to be appropriate.(c) Consultation.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop the policy required by subsection (a) in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.(d) Report.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing—(1) the policy required by subsection (a); and(2) an implementation plan for the policy that includes—(A) a strategy and schedules for the replacement of manned systems with unmanned systems in the performance of the missions identified in the policy pursuant to subsection (b)(1);120 STAT. 2365(B) establishment of programs to address technical, operational, and production challenges, and gaps in capabilities, with respect to unmanned systems; and(C) an assessment of progress towards meeting the goals identified for the subset of unmanned air and ground systems established in section 220 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (as enacted into law by Public Law 106–398; 114 Stat. 1654A–38).(e) Unmanned Systems Defined.—In this section, the term “unmanned systems” consists of unmanned aerial systems, unmanned ground systems, and unmanned maritime systems.