ANNUAL DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION CHARACTERIZATION OF OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, SUITABILITY, AND SURVIVABILITY OF THE BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.

SEC. 231. ANNUAL DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION CHARACTERIZATION OF OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, SUITABILITY, AND SURVIVABILITY OF THE BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.(a) Annual Characterization.—Section 232(h) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (10 U.S.C. 2431 note) is amended—(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):“(2) The Director of Operational Test and Evaluation shall also each year characterize the operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of the ballistic missile defense system, and its elements, that have been fielded or tested before the end of the preceding fiscal year.”; and(3) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting “and the characterization under paragraph (2)” after “the assessment under paragraph (1)”.122 STAT. 4391(b) Conforming Amendment.—The heading of such section is amended to read as follows: “Annual OT&E Assessment and Characterization of Certain Ballistic Missile Defense Matters.—”.(c) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning on or after that date.