MODIFICATIONS TO F/A-18 AIRCRAFT TO MITIGATE PHYSIOLOGICAL EPISODES.

SEC. 127. MODIFICATIONS TO F/A-18 AIRCRAFT TO MITIGATE PHYSIOLOGICAL EPISODES. (a) Modifications Required.—The Secretary of the Navy shall modify the F/A-18 aircraft to reduce the occurrence of, and mitigate the risk posed by, physiological episodes affecting crewmembers of the aircraft. The modifications shall include, at minimum— (1) replacement of the F/A-18 cockpit altimeter; (2) upgrade of the F/A-18 onboard oxygen generation system; (3) redesign of the F/A-18 aircraft life support systems required to meet onboard oxygen generation system input specifications; and (4) installation of equipment associated with improved F/A-18 physiological monitoring and alert systems. (b) Report Required.—Not later than February 1, 2019, and annually thereafter through February 1, 2021, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a written update on the status of all modifications to the F/A-18 aircraft carried out by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a). (c) Waiver.—The Secretary of the Navy may waive the requirement to make a modification under subsection (a) if the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that the specific modification is inadvisable and provides a detailed justification for excluding the modification from the Navy’s planned upgrades for the F/A-18 aircraft.