FY2017 BUDGET: NDAA Secures Key Language Advancing Electronic Warfare and Directed Energy
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
Prior to adjourning, the House and Senate approved the Conference Report to S. 2943, the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill awaits the President’s signature in the coming days. Overall, Conference Report provides $619 in budget authority for national defense, including $5.8 billion in supplemental funding for operations and $3.2 billion for Readiness Stabilization Funding.
There were several provisions included in the Conference Report that directly impact the electronic warfare (EW) and directed energy (DE) communities. These provisions were included in both House and Senate versions of the NDAA and agreed upon in the final bill. Prior to NDAA consideration in both chambers, Senator Mark Kirk (IL) introduced S. 2486, the Electronic Warfare Capabilities Enhancement Act. The Congressional EW Working Group (EWWG) followed suit by introducing nearly identical legislation by the same title, H.R. 4851. The legislation essentially provides certain authorities and reforms to improve flexibility in the use of funds to streamline and accelerate the development and fielding of EW capabilities. The Senate version of the NDAA, passed in June, included the base text of S. 2486, except for one section that would grant the authority to waive the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) for certain EW programs. The House version of the NDAA sought to include provisions from H.R. 4851 that were different from S. 2486. These provisions were added by amendments offered by Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Co-chair of the EWWG. Specifically, the EWWG included language to establish a Pilot Program to use certain EW sustainment funding for modernization of legacy EW systems.
There were several provisions included in the Conference Report that directly impact the electronic warfare (EW) and directed energy (DE) communities. These provisions were included in both House and Senate versions of the NDAA and agreed upon in the final bill. Prior to NDAA consideration in both chambers, Senator Mark Kirk (IL) introduced S. 2486, the Electronic Warfare Capabilities Enhancement Act. The Congressional EW Working Group (EWWG) followed suit by introducing nearly identical legislation by the same title, H.R. 4851. The legislation essentially provides certain authorities and reforms to improve flexibility in the use of funds to streamline and accelerate the development and fielding of EW capabilities. The Senate version of the NDAA, passed in June, included the base text of S. 2486, except for one section that would grant the authority to waive the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) for certain EW programs. The House version of the NDAA sought to include provisions from H.R. 4851 that were different from S. 2486. These provisions were added by amendments offered by Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Co-chair of the EWWG. Specifically, the EWWG included language to establish a Pilot Program to use certain EW sustainment funding for modernization of legacy EW systems.
While the NDAA Conference Report removed the Senate language providing for Rapid Acquisition Authority (RAA) for EW, it did maintain the Pilot Program (Section 234) on modernization and fielding of electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) warfare systems and EW capabilities. The Conference Report directs the EW Executive Committee (EW EXCOM) to run this initiative. Additionally, the Conference Report calls for a strategy for improving electronic warfare and EMS warfare capabilities (Section 240), the elements of which align with provisions in both S. 2486 and H.R. 4851. The purpose of this provision is to align congressional perspectives on EW and EMS operations with ongoing work from the EW EXCOM. "We applaud the great work and progress of the EW EXCOM over the past year and we are pleased with the inclusion of these important provisions in the NDAA Conference Report. Our goal is to ensure alignment between congressional and Pentagon perspectives on EW and EMS operations and we want to make sure there is regular communication from both sides. This dialogue is critical for advancing capabilities necessary to fight and win in 21st Century military operations," said Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), Co-chair of the EW Working Group.
The NDAA Conference Report also included notable reforms to strengthen the development and fielding of directed energy (DE) weapons. Specifically, the NDAA includes Section 219 that designates a Department of Defense (DoD) senior official with principal responsibility for DE weapons. The provision also calls for the development of a strategic plan and roadmap to identify and coordinate efforts across the military services to ensure joint mission effectiveness. Furthermore, the senior official will provide technical advice and support for exercises and demonstrations to improve "operational viability" of DE capabilities. Finally, the language re-designates the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office as the "Joint Directed Energy Transition Office," which will report to the appointed senior official. In total, the reforms streamline and strengthen the advocacy for DE within the Pentagon and across the services.
The aforementioned provisions advancing the development and fielding of EW and DE capabilities sets the stage for the incoming 115th Congress and a new Administration. The AOC will continue to work with and be resource to both the EWWG and the congressional DE Caucus to identify additional reforms and policies to accelerate development of EW and DE systems and technologies, balance investment to serve both near-term requirements and long-term vision, and strengthen leadership at every level in DoD and our military services. For additional information on the NDAA Conference Report, click here.
