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Implementation of Comptroller General recommendations on F–35 Joint Strike Fighter technical data needs for sustainment

Division A · Title I: Procurement · Subtitle E: Defense-wide, Joint, and Multiservice Matters

Plain-language summaryAI

The Secretary of Defense must create and submit a plan within 180 days to address specific Government Accountability Office recommendations related to the F–35 Joint Strike Fighter's technical data needs for sustainment. This plan must explain which recommendations will be implemented, include a timeline for doing so, and discuss any recommendations that will not be implemented along with alternative actions. One year after submitting the plan, the Secretary must report on the progress of implementing it, including details on technical data rights, estimated costs, current status, and challenges.

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Section Text · Sec. 167.
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(a) Plan required

(1) In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees and to the Comptroller General of the United States a plan to address the following recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office:

(A)

Recommendation 5 in the report titled F–35 Sustainment: Need for Affordable Strategy, Greater Attention to Risks, and Improved Cost Estimates (GA–14–778).

(B)

Recommendations 1 through 7 in the report titled F–35 Aircraft: DOD and the Military Services Need to Reassess the Future Sustainment Strategy (GAO–23–105341).

(C)

Recommendations 1 and 2 in the report titled F–35 Aircraft: Actions Needed to Address Long-Standing Risks to Operational Effectiveness (GAO–25–107101C).

(2) Elements

The plan under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

With respect to each recommendation specified in paragraph (1) that the Secretary has implemented or intends to implement—

(i)

a summary of actions that have been taken or will be taken to implement the recommendation; and

(ii)

a schedule, with specific milestones, for completing implementation of the recommendation.

(B)

Identification of any recommendations specified in paragraph (1) that the Secretary does not intend to implement, together with a discussion of the reasons for not implementing the recommendations and any alternative actions taken or intended to be taken to address the matters identified by the Government Accountability Office in connection with such recommendations.

(b) Plan implementation report

Not later than one year after the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits the implementation plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall carry out activities to implement the plan and submit to the congressional defense committees and the Comptroller General of the United States a report on the following:

(1)

All critical technical data rights requirements for F–35 Joint Strike Fighter sustainment, including for both organizational-level and depot-level sustainment and repair.

(2)

Estimated costs for acquiring identified critical technical data rights for sustainment.

(3)

The status of efforts for acquiring identified critical technical data rights for sustainment.

(4)

Any known challenges for acquiring identified critical technical data rights for sustainment.