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Week Ending December 23, 2005

HR 1815 To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2006, and for other purposes.

{For a full and detailed list of all items of spending jump to here }                                                                                            

BRIEF

   The taxpayer’s largest spending ticket, the Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization sets the basis for programs, procurement and spending amount limits under the DOD. Winding its way through the legislative process the bill ultimately went to a House Senate conference at the very end of the 1st session of the 109th Congress. The final version of the bill included language from Senator John McCain that defines torture as prohibited by law.

  The money will be spent by all of the Armed Services other than the US Coast Guard to procure aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion. Weaponry funds would also be used for research, development, test, and evaluation.

   Everything from special air filters for combat vehicles to naval ships and troop transport planes are covered under procurement. Matter ranging from spouse’s education and child support payments, legal matters regarding abuse, murder and child abuse are included along with generous offers of benefits to increase recruitment.

   The most broadcast matter of women in combat comes from a provision established in 1994 and now codified in the bill to prohibit female soldiers from being assigned to duty that is directly involved “with a direct ground combat unit; performance of long-range reconnaissance and Special Operations missions; prohibitive costs of berthing and privacy arrangements; or, job-related physical requirements that exclude the vast majority of female members.”

   The DOD requested an increase in end force for the current average of 1.4 million troops defense-wide. The Committee recommended raising the level by 30,000 for the army and 4,000 for the Marines to bring the end strength to 512,400 for the Army and 179,000 for the Marine Corp, but finding willing enlistees has become a problem according to DOD sources and news stories. Attracting enlistees would be enhanced by a proposed 3.1 percent across-the-board pay hike, raising the active duty reenlistment bonus from $60,000 to $90,000 and increasing the cutoff point in a soldier’s career after which reenlisting would not pay a bonus from 16 years to twenty years. Numerous other provisions improving access to education for military spouses, pay and housing differentials for overseas living, health care benefit improvements and a variety of support services for families of troops on active duty also are offered.

  Of interest to perennial Marines the Corp will be absorbed into the Navy as a full partner, The Department will be renamed the Department of Navy and Marine Corp and the Secretary would be the Secretary of Navy and Marine Corp.

   Nuclear weaponry, energy and cleanup are covered by several provisions in the bill and the responsibility for research and development, environmental clean up and disposal of nuclear waste and weapons falls on the Department of Energy along with DOD. Efforts continue to deal with leftover nuclear weapons and waste from the former Soviet Union and nuclear waste in the US has reached a level requiring the creation of an above ground interim disposal site to be used for storing waste from commercial reactors until Yucca Mountain in Nevada is ready to receive the Nation’s nuclear waste.

   Nuclear weaponry along with weapon procurement in general will continue to be a priority matter. The administration’s request for funds to continue research into DOD’s coveted Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator project were eliminated ($4 million) but $ 7 million has been provided to carry out a study measuring the feasibility of alternative “Penetrator” opportunities.

   $49 billion is included for the on-going operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in anticipation of another supplemental request from the President expected in a few months. (The recently approved $82 billion was for 205 defense spending and other matters)

     A unique section puts forth some specific rules on how soldier behave. Rules are created establishing no statute of limitations for the prosecution of murder and rape and the period of time in which child abuse and stalking prosecutions can go forward is extended.

   In this bill some elements give themselves readily to the direction the Secretary of Defense has promised to take the Armed Forces, to that of a more flexible, self-sufficient, streamlined and quickly deployed organization to handle mostly small scale operations such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. Procurement move towards in-the-field immediacy for handling everything from repairs to amputations. Transport of materiel quickly finds support in Air Force and Navy transportation procurement requests. DOD laboratories are to be revitalized and research is increased, operational files of the DOD are now exempt from public disclosure, a defense education program would emphasize study of math and science relating to DOD needs and extra efforts are being made to vitalize foreign language training programs.

 The Committee explained its’ work this way:

“this legislation would address several general and outcome-related performance goals and objectives. The general goal and objective of this legislation is to improve the quality of life for military personnel and their families, military readiness, the modernization and eventual transformation of the armed forces, to enhance the development of ballistic missile defenses, and to improve the condition of military housing and facilities.

“With respect to the outcome-related goal of improving the quality of life for military personnel and their families, the objective of this legislation is to:

(1) Provide a 3.1 percent across-the-board pay raise for our men and women in uniform. The raise would reduce the gap between average military and private sector pay from 5.1 percent to 4.6 percent; and

(2) Eliminate the provision to pay reservists a reduced housing allowance when mobilized to serve on active duty for greater than 30 days and less than 140 days. It also clarifies that full basic housing allowance would be paid to Reservists who are mobilized for less than 30 days in connection with a contingency operation; and

(3) Address manpower needs with an increase of 10,000 personnel in the Army and 1,000 in the Marine Corps in 2006. That would bring the Army end strength to 512,400 and the Marine Corps to 179,000. In addition, the committee would provide the Secretary of Defense with the authority to continue to grow the Army to 532,400 and the Marine Corps to 184,000 during the 2007 through 2009 period.

“With respect to the outcome-related goal of improving force protection for our troops, the objective of this legislation is to:

(1) Provide several billion dollars in funding for force protection initiatives, including armor for vehicles, new munitions and improvised explosive device jammers; and

“With respect to the outcome-related goal of successfully prosecuting continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the objective of this legislation is to:

(1) Provide an additional $49.1 billion in contingency operations supplemental funding to be appropriated for fiscal year 2006 to support the war on terrorism's operational costs, personnel expenses and the procurement of new equipment; and

“With respect to the outcome-related goal of improving military housing and facilities, the objective of this legislation is to:

(1) Provide $12.1 billion for military construction and military family housing programs; and

(2) Allow the secretaries of the military departments to exchange surplus property for construction projects, land, or housing.”

The bill also requires the Department of Defense to produce detailed reports on nuclear activities and costs as well as those relating to the expense and personnel expenditures past present and future for the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sponsor: Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA-52^nd)

Vote: Passed House amended 390 to 39 (RC 222) (May 24, 2005). A Motion to Recommit the bill With Instructions failed 211 to 218 (RC 221) (May 24, 2005). The Senate agreed to the conference report on this bill December 21, 2005. Passed House 374 to 41 (RC 665) December 19, 2005.

Cost to the taxpayers: From the Committee Report: “The President requested budget authority of $441.8 billion for the national defense budget function for fiscal year 2006. Of this amount, the President requested $421.1 billion for the Department of Defense, including $12.1 billion for military construction and family housing. The defense budget request for fiscal year 2006 also included $16.4 billion for Department of Energy national security programs and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

   “The committee recommends an overall level of $441.6 billion in budget authority. This amount represents an increase of approximately $19.5 billion from the amount authorized for appropriation by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375).

   “In addition, the committee recommends $49.1 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2006, in addition to amounts otherwise authorized by this Act, to provide funds for additional costs due to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.”

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MORE INFORMATION

AMENDMENTS

ADDITIONAL AND DISSENTING VIEWS FROM THE COMMITTEE

RATIONAL FOR THE BILL FROM THE COMMITTEE

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PROCUREMENT

TITLE I--PROCUREMENT

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $78.0 billion for procurement. This represents a $3.8 billion increase from the amount authorized for fiscal year 2005.

The committee recommends authorization of $79.1 billion, an increase of $1.1 billion from the fiscal year 2006 request.

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AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, ARMY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $2.8 billion for Aircraft Procurement, Army. The committee recommends authorization of $2.9 billion, an increase of $60.5 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

AH-64 modern signal processing unit

The budget request contained $580.4 million for AH-64 modifications, but no funds were requested for the modern signal processing unit (MSPU) initial integration and production for the AH-64.

The MSPU is an embedded digital vibration diagnostic technology already developed by the Army for the AH-64A Apache and the AH-64D Longbow to monitor the tail rotor gearbox, the intermediate gearbox, and the auxiliary power unit (APU) clutch for incipient failures. The MSPU is a direct replacement for the 30-year-old analog signal processing unit which is known to experience high failure rates and shown to be unreliable in detecting incipient gearbox failures. The improved diagnostics of the MSPU will improve flight safety and reduce maintenance test costs.

The committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million to integrate the modern signal processing unit into the AH-64A and AH-64D production line and to procure the MSPU for fielding as spares for both the active Army and National Guard Apache and Longbow aircraft.

High-altitude Army National Guard aviation training site

The committee is aware that the High-altitude Army National Guard (ARNG) Aviation Training Site (HAATS) at Eagle, Colorado, operated by the Colorado Army National Guard, is the primary site for training military aviators operations in all seasoned weather conditions in hostile, high altitude, power limited environments. The training site currently uses UH-1 Huey and OH-58 Kiowa aircraft that are being phased out of the inventory within the future years defense plan. Concurrently, deployments of the Colorado Army National Guard limit the ability of HAATS instructor pilots to obtain the number of flying hours necessary to maintain their instructor status.

The committee is concerned that the combination of these factors could degrade HAATS ability to train pilots in the kinds of high altitude operations that are increasingly relevant in military operations. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to evaluate the type of aircraft available in the Army's inventory most suitable to the performance of HAATS mission, and the most appropriate schedule for assigning these aircraft to HAATS. The Secretary of the Army is directed to provide a report of his findings to the congressional defense committees no later than December 15, 2005.

UH-60 aircraft wireless intercom system upgrade

The budget request contained $29.4 million for aircrew integrated systems, but included no funds for procurement of non-encrypted aircraft wireless intercom system (AWIS) upgrades for active and reserve UH-60 medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) helicopters.

The committee notes there is no integrated or qualified wireless communication system on board UH-60 rotorcraft for use by crewmembers. Consequently, this does not allow onboard medical personnel, while in flight or during ground operations, freedom to use both hands to perform emergency medical procedures while communicating with the flight crew. Early fielding of non-encrypted AWIS would eliminate the operational hazards and restrictions inherent in the existing tethered system for MEDEVAC crews.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million for non-encrypted AWIS for active and reserve UH-60 MEDEVAC helicopters.

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MISSILE PROCUREMENT, ARMY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $1.3 billion for Missile Procurement, Army. The committee recommends authorization of $1.2 billion, a decrease of $27.9 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Advanced precision kill weapon system

The budget request contained $27.9 million for the procurement of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS).

The committee notes that the APKWS program has been curtailed by the Army. Subsequently, the Army Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space has directed a contract recompetition for APKWS.

Therefore, the committee recommends no funding for procurement of the APKWS, a decrease of $27.9 million.

Patriot system reporting requirements

The Patriot system provides defense against short to medium range theater ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other air breathing threats as part of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. The committee notes that the congressional defense committees provided the Department of the Army with $43.4 million in reprogrammed funds in fiscal year 2004 to correct Patriot system deficiencies that contributed to fratricide incidents in Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the Department of the Army, these corrective actions are scheduled to be completed in fiscal year 2007. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by February 1, 2006, and annually thereafter until all corrective actions are complete, on the status of completing these Patriot system corrective actions. This report should include the results of operational tests conducted to verify that corrective actions have been satisfactorily tested as well as any findings of additional problems that require correction, and funding proposed to address these deficiencies.

The committee also notes that a January 2005 Defense Science Board Task Force report on Patriot system performance highlighted the need for the Department of Defense to identify and correct identification friend or foe (IFF) problems and to improve situational awareness of U.S. air defense systems in order to prevent future fratricide incidents. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on its plan to identify and correct IFF deficiencies and to improve situational awareness of U.S. air defense systems by February 1, 2006. This report should also provide recommendations on how to improve situational awareness of air defense systems when working with allies and the cost associated with correcting these deficiencies.

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WEAPONS AND TRACKED COMBAT VEHICLES, ARMY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $1.7 billion for Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army. The committee recommends authorization of $1.6 billion, a decrease of $58.2 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Abrams tank modernization

The budget request included no funds for the M1A2 SEP retrofit program. The M1A2 SEP tank is an upgraded, fully digitized, first generation M1A2 Abrams tank which enhances lethality, survivability, and mobility as well as providing improved situational awareness for its crew.

In the past years, the committee has raised explicit concerns regarding the Army's tank modernization program and associated funding. Operation Iraqi Freedom has demonstrated that there are few conflicts where main battle tanks do not play a significant role in ensuring the survivability and offensive firepower of the armed forces. The committee remains resolute in its assessment that the Army should pure fleet its active component heavy forces and selected Army National Guard brigades with the M1A2 SEP tank.

The conversion to 35 heavy armor modular brigade combat teams (BCTs) underscores the need for Abrams tank modernization. The committee understands the Army's modularity initiative puts a premium on not just quantity of equipment such as tanks but also quality of equipment. The committee understands the Army is pursuing a strategy that purports several pure fleet options for these heavy BCTs and notes the most optimal option has 18 heavy BCTs outfitted with the M1A2 SEP tank. The committee notes the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (Public Law 109-13) funds modernization of one 3rd Infantry Division BCT. The committee commends the Army for recognizing the need to equip one of the Army's premier armor units with M1A2 SEP tanks. But there remains a requirement for 180 additional M1A2 SEP tanks just to complete pure fleeting of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The committee is concerned about the Army's plans to resource Abrams tank modernization. Therefore, the committee strongly encourages the Army to procure at least one heavy armor modular brigade combat team of M1A2 SEP tanks annually, beginning in the fiscal year 2007 budget request until a minimum of 18 BCTs are equipped with the M1A2 SEP tank.

Stryker tire second source qualification

The budget request included $878.4 million for the procurement of the Stryker Family of Vehicles and associated costs, but included no funds to qualify a second source for the production of the existing Stryker tire.

The committee recognizes that tires are currently the highest demand item in sustainment and deployment for the Stryker. The majority of tire failures are being caused by wear-out from high operational tempo, from increased pressure due to the weight associated with the addition of Slat add-on armor for protection against rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), and damage from RPG and improvised explosive devices attacks.

The committee suggests qualifying a second source for tire production in order to maintain timely military supply needs and domestic industrial base capabilities. The committee assumes that tires would be purchased from both sources only as needed to supply increased requirements in production, sustainment, and deployment. The committee understands cost savings could be realized due to competition and that historically second source situations can produce cost savings in unit price up to 25 percent.

The committee recommends $893.4 million, an increase of $15.0 million to qualify a second source supplier for the existing Stryker tires.

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AMMUNITION PROCUREMENT, ARMY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $1.7 billion for Ammunition Procurement, Army. The committee recommends authorization of $1.8 billion, an increase of $29.9 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Kansas army ammunition plant modern munitions enterprise

The budget request contained $33.5 million for provision of industrial facilities, but included no funds for the flexible load, assemble and pack (LAP) modern munitions enterprise at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. In fiscal years 2004 and 2005 Congress appropriated $3.5 million and $6.5 million, respectively, for the flexible LAP modern munitions enterprise.

The committee recognizes there are significant critical challenges making modern munitions during the LAP phase. Transforming an existing, high volume production facility to a flexible LAP installation can support both the latest explosive formulations and smart component assembly needed to meet these critical challenges. The flex-line concept would provide upgrade and modernization of obsolete plant infrastructure and production equipment by taking the manufacturing technologies at the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center and applying them to the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant for implementation. In doing so, the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant would be better able to meet the future needs of smart munitions programs for the Department of Defense.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million for continuation of the flexible LAP modern munitions enterprise at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant.

Lake City army ammunition plant

The budget request contained $144.6 million for ammunition production base support, of which $33.5 million is for the provision of industrial facilities. However, no funds were requested to continue the modernization and transformation program at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

The committee is aware that a significant investment in new equipment and facilities at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant is required to provide the quantities of small caliber ammunition necessary to support ongoing operations in the global war on terror.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million to continue the modernization and transformation of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant during fiscal year 2006.

M19 modern demolition initiators

The budget request contained $29.7 million for demolition munitions (all types), but contained no funds for M19 modern demolition initiators (MDI).

The committee understands the M19 MDI is currently in use by combat engineers for ongoing operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The M19 MDI is smaller and lighter than previous designs and is easier for the soldier to employ. Consequently, it substantially reduces the soldier's time on target, thereby reducing the risk of potential casualties resulting from enemy attack. The committee notes that the budget request contained no funds for the procurement of M19 modern demolition initiators to replace initiators already utilized, thereby reducing the war time reserve available.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $1.9 million for procurement of M19 modern demolition initiators.

Missile propellant/warhead chemical oxidizer recycling

The budget request contained $102.9 million for all conventional munitions demilitarization, but contained no funds for missile recycling capability (MRC) energetics processing module (EPM) commissioning.

The committee notes the MRC EPM project supports Department of Defense sustainability objectives through demilitarization of ammonium perchlorate (AP), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) and cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) based rocket motor propellants/warhead chemical oxidizers. Due to the expensive nature of these oxidizers, this is a critical technology to the overall success of the resource, recovery and recycling. The EPM liquefied anhydrous ammonia based demilitarization approach is a key component requirement for the recycling of AP and HMX/RDX materials for reuse in new solid propellants and warheads.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million to fund commissioning of the EPM capability at the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Rapid wall breaching kit

The budget request contained $29.7 million for demolition munitions (all types), but contained no funds for the rapid wall breaching kit (RWBK).

The committee notes that military operations urban terrain (MOUT) missions are extremely dangerous due to field construction of expedient explosive charges and unreliable methods of attachment which expose the assault team to direct enemy fire for unnecessary extended periods of time. The RWBK is a one-man portable, fully integrated and engineered kit containing all the necessary items to complete the breaching mission. The RWBK system is employable within three minutes of target acquisition and does not require extensive training or special skills to operate. The RWBK can reduce the factors of time on target, blast overpressure, and excess collateral damage, resulting in improved safety for the warfighter.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million for procurement of the rapid wall breaching kit.

Small caliber ammunition manufacturer qualification

The committee notes that Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) is and should remain the primary Department of the Army qualified manufacturer of small caliber ammunition for Department of Defense use. LCAAP is currently operating at 100 percent capacity for small caliber ammunition production and the current Department of the Army small caliber ammunition requirement is exceeding the domestic-based production rate. The committee believes that in order to alleviate any potential procurement shortfalls of small caliber ammunition due to wartime surge requirements and increased small caliber ammunition qualification training requirements above the maximum rate capability of LCAAP, a second-source, domestic-based manufacturer of small caliber ammunition is needed.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to qualify and secure a second-source, domestic-based manufacturer of small caliber ammunition, exclusively for surge production requirements above the LCAAP capacity.

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OTHER PROCUREMENT, ARMY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $4.3 billion for Other Procurement, Army. The committee recommends authorization of $4.0 billion, a decrease of $259.3 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

AN/ARS-6A technology upgrade

The budget request contained $15.7 million to procure combat survivor evader locator (CSEL) radios, but contained no funds for the technology upgrade and modification for the AN/ARS-6 V3 personnel locator system for Army special operations forces (SOF) MH-60 and MH-47 helicopters.

The committee notes that Congress appropriated $2.2 million for procurement of the AN/ARS-6A system for the Army in fiscal year 2005. The committee is aware of the need to modify the Army's AN/ARS-6 V3 system to the updated AN/ARS-6A. Army SOF helicopters routinely perform search and rescue operations with all components of the U.S. armed forces, as well as with the disparate elements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization member militaries. Many of these organizations are migrating to modern survival radios and beacons such as the CSEL radio, the PRC-112 B/G radio and the 406 emergency locator transmitter (ELT) which are incompatible with current combat search and rescue communications equipment installed on Army SOF aircraft. The AN/ARS-6A upgrade will have the ability to interface and communicate with CSEL, PRC-112B, 406 ELT, and potentially the PRC-112G.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $4.2 million for procurement of the AN/ARS-6A.

Best value procurement practices for tactical wheeled vehicles

The committee strongly encourages the Department of Defense to apply best value procurement practices to the acquisition of critical components installed on tactical wheeled vehicles (TWV). As noted elsewhere in this report, the Army and Marine Corps TWV fleets compose the critical logistical and maneuverable backbone of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Current operations demand that these vehicles serve as combat systems not just logistical vehicles. The committee is concerned that certain TWV components are procured based on the lowest price rather than more important features such as performance, quality and durability. Given the role of TWVs, the rule of best value should be applied to procurement of select TWV critical components.

Cartledge infuser

The budget request contained $10.7 million for procurement of combat support medical equipment, but included no funds for the Cartledge Infuser.

In battle, trauma causes the majority of casualties to our servicemen and women and death often results from uncontrolled bleeding and reduced oxygen delivery to vital organs. In treating a casualty, medical personnel infuse blood or volume-expanding fluids to rapidly replace lost blood. In cases of severe shock and severe bleeding, however, current devices and infusion techniques are often insufficient. The committee notes the demonstrated effectiveness of the Cartledge Infuser, which is capable of infusing fluids at rates ranging from 20 ml/hour to 1200 mil/minute, giving a surgeon the time necessary to treat the patient.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million for procurement of the Cartledge Infuser.

Deployable power generation distribution system

The budget request contained $43.1 million for generators and associated equipment, but contained no funds for the 920kW Deployable Power Generation Distribution System (DPGDS), a joint program to replace older generators for Air Force expeditionary airfields and Army engineer battalions. The budget request would terminate production of DPGDS without filling the Army's requirement.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.5 million to continue production of the 920kW DPGDS in order to address the Army's requirements.

Heavy expanded mobility tactical truck light equipment transporter

The budget request included $207.1 million for the family of heavy tactical vehicles, but included no funds for the heavy expanded mobility tactical truck (HEMTT) light equipment transporter (LET), the M893 A2 LET.

The M893 A2 LET will be the primary vehicle for the engineer battalions of the Army National Guard, who support the Army's modular units of action and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs). Although the Army has begun to deploy Guard engineer battalions to support units of action and SBCTs, the M893 A2 LET is not yet fielded to many units.

The committee recommends an increase of $9.0 million to procure the M893 A2 LET for the Army National Guard.

Non-system training devices

The budget request contained $184.5 million to procure nonsystem training devices, but included no funds to procure the Laser Marksmanship Training System (LMTS) for the Army National Guard; Bullet Sensor Livefire Trainer for the active force and Army National Guard; Virtual Training Demonstration Project; or the America's Army Future Soldier Trainer (AA-FST) for the active force and Army National Guard. The committee notes that each of these systems provides needed training for military personnel.

The committee recognizes the Army National Guard has immediate, urgent requirements for LMTS to maintain highly effective marksmanship training skills for recent deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Bullet Sensor Livefire Trainer is a wireless, battery operated, automated, lightweight, portable training tool that provides soldiers with instant, precise and computerized feedback of bullet strikes on paper targets and can maximize training proficiency of the active, guard and reserve components. The Virtual Training Demonstration project initiates an immersive group simulation training demonstration project to provide additional training opportunities for active, reserve, and guard components; and to effectively assess and identify potential resource savings associated with the conduct of virtual training as a supplement to live training. The AA-FST program has proven to be a valuable tool to lower attrition among future soldiers prior to their entry into initial training and the committee notes that phase 2 of the AA-FST program will expand the program to 12 battalion sets for the active force.

The committee recommends $7.5 million for LMTS for the Army National Guard, $5.6 million for the Bullet Sensor Livefire Trainers, $3.0 million for the Virtual Training Demonstration project, and $13.7 million for phase 2 of the AA-FST program; an increase of $29.8 million for nonsystem training devices.

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AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, NAVY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $10.5 billion for Aircraft Procurement, Navy. The committee recommends authorization of $10.0 billion, a decrease of $474.6 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Crashworthy crew chief seats

The budget request contained $14.9 million for CH-53 Cargo Helicopter Modifications, but no funds were requested for the crashworthy crew chief seats.

The crashes of CH-53s due to hostile fire and non-hostile fire incidents in Operation Iraqi Freedom demonstrate the need for crashworthy crew chief seats. The installation of crashworthy seats would increase crewmember mission efficiency and effectiveness while significantly reducing the risk of death or injury during a hard landing or controlled crash. Survivability equipment is an essential part of force protection, which is the committee's highest priority.

The committee recommends an increase of $6.5 million for the procurement of crashworthy crew chief seats for the CH-53 aircraft.

EA-6B modifications

The budget request contained $120.6 million for EA-6B modifications, of which $52.2 million was included for improved capabilities (ICAP) III modification kits and associated equipment, and $9.6 million was included for one low-band transmitter pod. The Department of the Navy's fleet of EA-6B aircraft is currently the Department of Defense's only aircraft configured to provide the electronic-jamming capability to deny and degrade the detection of friendly forces by enemy air defense systems.

The ICAP III modification significantly improves the EA-6B's ability to suppress and destroy modern enemy air defenses by accurately identifying the specific emitter type, and by providing the enemy emitter's range and bearing, thereby allowing timely employment of suppression or destruction weapons. The committee notes that the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) has included additional ICAP III modification kits among his unfunded priorities for fiscal year 2006, and therefore recommends an increase of $73.0 million for seven additional ICAP III modification kits and associated equipment.

The low-band transmitter pod replaces the current ALQ-99 tactical jamming system (TJS) and provides the EA-6B with an expanded jamming capability against the early warning and acquisition radars of modern integrated air defense systems. The low-band transmitter pod also provides significantly improved reliability and maintainability compared to the ALQ-99 TJS. The committee notes that the CNO included the procurement of 11 additional low-band transmitter pods among his highest unfunded priorities for fiscal year 2006, and therefore recommends an increase of $16.4 million for this purpose.

In total, the committee recommends $210.0 million for EA-6B modifications, an increase of $89.4 million.

Joint primary air training system

The budget request contained $2.4 million for Joint Primary Air Training System (JPATS) program support, but included no funds to procure T-6A aircraft or associated ground- based training systems.

The JPATS, consisting of both the T-6A aircraft and a ground-based training system, will be used by the Navy and Air Force for primary pilot training. The T-6A will replace both the Navy's T-34 and Air Force's T-37B fleets, providing safer, more economical and more effective training for student pilots.

The committee notes that the Department of the Navy does not plan to continue JPATS procurement until fiscal year 2007, and, continues to believe that JPATS procurement for the Navy would not only reduce procurement costs for both the Navy and the Air Force, but would also reduce operations and maintenance costs.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $37.4 million for JPATS, an increase of $35.0 million for six T-6A aircraft and associated ground-based training systems.

P-3 modifications

The budget request contained $163.3 million for P-3 series modifications, but included no funds for procurement of high resolution digital recorders for P-3C aircraft equipped with the anti-surface warfare improvement program (AIP) upgrade, or for a communications for real-time intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance support (CURTIS) program for block modification upgrade (BMUP) P-3C aircraft.

The AIP upgrade improves the P-3C's surveillance, communications, survivability, and over-the-horizon targeting capabilities through the installation of commercial-off-the-shelf components. The committee understands that current recorders used to record electro-optical, infra-red, and radar on AIP-equipped P-3C aircraft have limited information storage capability, and have high failure rates resulting in the loss of mission-critical intelligence data. To address this situation, the committee believes that AIP-equipped P-3C aircraft should be upgraded with high resolution digital recorders, therefore recommends an increase of $5.0 million for this purpose.

The CURTIS program for BMUP P-3C aircraft would provide improved satellite communication radios and a capability to video-link imagery to ground forces. Additionally, the CURTIS program would allow an operator to fuse intelligence data from all existing systems to provide a more comprehensive picture to operational commanders and ground personnel. Since the committee believes that the CURTIS program would improve the viability of the BMUP P-3C aircraft fleet, it recommends an increase of $2.0 million to procure a CURTIS production demonstration kit and to conduct CURTIS aircraft flight certification.

In total, the committee recommends $170.3 million for P-3 series modifications, an increase of $7.0 million.

Shared reconnaissance pod logistics support

The budget request contained $2.7 billion for 38 F/A-18E and F/A-18F aircraft, but included no funds for the shared reconnaissance pod (SHARP) logistics support.

The SHARP is an electro-optical and infra-red podded system, mounted on the F/A-18E and F/A-18F aircraft, which is capable of collecting long- and medium-range imagery to provide data-linked information to combatant commanders about potential enemy targets. The committee understands that without an increase for SHARP logistics support, full operational capability of the Department of the Navy's 21 SHARPs will not be achieved, and the committee notes that the Chief of Naval Operations included SHARP logistics support among his unfunded priorities for fiscal year 2006.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $3.2 million for SHARP logistics support, and understands that this increase will complete development of maintenance manuals and training products.

T-45 training system

The budget request contained $239.2 million for procurement of six T-45C aircraft and associated training systems. The T-45 training system (TS) is an integrated training system that combines the T-45 aircraft, simulators, and computer-based training for the Navy's intermediate-level undergraduate pilot training.

The committee understands that the quantity of six aircraft budgeted for fiscal year 2006 is less than the most economical minimum sustaining procurement rate, and notes that the Chief of Naval Operations has included the procurement of three additional T-45C aircraft among his unfunded priorities for fiscal year 2006. The committee also understands that an increase of three aircraft procured in fiscal year 2006 would save approximately $4.0 million in reduced unit costs.

Consequently, the committee recommends $297.8 million for the T-45TS, an increase of $58.6 million for three additional T-45C aircraft.

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WEAPONS PROCUREMENT, NAVY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $2.7 billion for Weapons Procurement, Navy. The committee recommends authorization of $2.8 billion, an increase of $67.2 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEM OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Tomahawk missile

The budget request contained $353.4 million for 379 tactical tomahawk (TACTOM) missiles.

The TACTOM missile is a long-range, precision-strike cruise missile launched from surface ships or submarines. Currently, TACTOM maximum production capacity is 456 missiles per year.

The committee understands that the Department of the Navy's programmed budget for TACTOM missiles would result in an inventory that is significantly below the Navy's stated Tomahawk requirement inventory level, and believes that an increase to the maximum TACTOM production capacity in fiscal year 2006 is warranted to help restore expenditures from the recent Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $420.6 million for the Tomahawk missile, an increase of $67.2 million for 77 additional TACTOM missiles. The committee believes that this increase should be distributed to procure an additional 57 surface and 20 subsurface TACTOM variants, and understands that this increase will result in a production net savings of at least $10,000 per missile.

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AMMUNITION PROCUREMENT, NAVY & MARINE CORPS

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $872.8 million for Ammunition Procurement, Navy & Marine Corps. The committee recommends authorization of $869.8 million, a decrease of $3.1 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEM OF SPECIAL INTEREST

MN79 anti-personnel obstacle breaching system

The budget request contained $38.8 million for linear charges (all types), including $32.0 million for procurement of the MN79 Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System (APOBS).

The APOBS is a two-man, portable, rocket propelled mine and obstacle clearing line charge system designed to clear a footpath through anti-personnel mines and wire obstacles during assault-breaching operations. The APOBS system is one of the first systems to fully comply with the insensitive munitions requirements and is also being tested for use on unmanned ground vehicles and robotic platforms to further enhance assault-breaching capabilities and warfighter protection. Lastly, the committee understands an APOBS shortage exists in war and training reserve stockpiles.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million to sufficiently fund procurement requirements of the APOBS.

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SHIPBUILDING AND CONVERSION, NAVY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $8.7 billion for Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy. The committee recommends authorization of $10.8 billion, an increase of $2.1 billion, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEM OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Navy shipbuilding programs

The committee is greatly concerned about the dramatic increase in Navy shipbuilding costs, the viability of the Navy's future force structure, and the ambiguity and volatility in the Navy's shipbuilding plans.

The spiraling growth in the costs of modern military systems has reached a point where it directly places at risk the ability of the United States to field weapons platforms in sufficient numbers to support U.S. military strategy and national security requirements. Nowhere, is this risk more apparent than in naval shipbuilding. Admiral Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations, when testifying before the committee on the fiscal year 2006 budget request for the Department of the Navy stated, `As we seek greater combat capability and greater operational efficiencies through upgraded power, propulsion, and computing technologies, we find a ratio of cost growth beyond our seeming control, which may not be fully explainable solely by reduced economies of scale.' The committee agrees that general inflation, raw material cost increases, and reduced overhead absorption due to shipbuilding rate decreases cannot fully explain the dramatic increase in shipbuilding costs.

Admiral Clark, in his posture statement before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense stated, `We need to partner with Congress and industry to regain our buying power. Acquisition and budget reforms, such as multi-year procurement, economic order quantity, and other approaches help to stabilize the production path, and in our view, reduce the per unit cost of ships and increase our shipbuilding rate.' The committee does not agree that creative financing methodologies that delay recognizing the true cost of shipbuilding or that provide ever-increasing amounts of funding to cover the explosion in ship costs are responsible actions. Incremental funding, advanced procurement, multi-year procurement, and various creative shipyard work allocation arrangements have failed to control the cost growth of vessel classes such as the Virginia class submarine, the replacement amphibious assault ship (LHA(R)), the future major surface combatant ship (DD(X)), and the future aircraft carrier CVN-21.

The committee believes the lack of discipline in both the requirements development process and the systems design and demonstration phase process are the largest contributors to the spiraling cost growth in naval vessels. The capabilities defined in the requirements development process must be constrained by an appropriate amount of overmatch capability, acknowledgement that some missions may be better served by other platforms in the joint battle space and by costs that permit the continued deployment of sufficient naval force structure. With the cost of a destroyer having potentially grown to be greater than 50 percent of the cost of the Nimitz class aircraft carrier, this class of new ships is simply not affordable. Further, the latest reports indicate that the CVN-21 aircraft carrier may cost as much as $13.0 billion.

The committee supports increased funding for naval shipbuilding. However, the committee recognizes that fiscal constraints will not permit the continued funding of dramatically more expensive vessels that will only further reduce force structure of the fleet and expedite the atrophy of our shipbuilding capability. Accordingly, the committee has included in this Act provisions that constrain the unit cost of the Virginia class submarine, the DD(X), the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), and the LHA(R). Further, these provisions are intended to force the Navy to assess the trade-off between military requirements and affordability and to stabilize ship designs prior to construction. In the interim, the committee recommends that the construction of two additional Arleigh Burke class (DDG-51) destroyers be authorized with funds, in part, from the cost savings derived from the aforementioned alterations to the DD(X) program.

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OTHER PROCUREMENT, NAVY

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $5.5 billion for Other Procurement, Navy. The committee recommends authorization of $5.6 billion, an increase of $146.5 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Joint threat emitter

The budget request contained $46.6 million for weapons range support equipment but included no funds to procure the joint threat emitter (JTE).

The JTE is an advanced, mobile, rapidly reprogrammable electronic warfare threat simulator that generates all known ground-based electronic warfare threats. The committee notes that the budget request includes JTE procurement by the Department of the Air Force, understands that the Department of the Navy's Fallon Training Range requires upgraded threat simulations which can be met by the JTE, and believes that JTE unit costs can be reduced for both Departments by providing an increase for Department of the Navy JTE procurement.

Therefore, the committee recommends $56.6 million for weapons range support equipment, an increase of $10.0 million for procurement of the JTE.

Material handling equipment

The budget request contained $12.9 million for materials handling equipment (MHE), of which $1.2 million was included to procure seven C-130 transportable scoop loaders with six-ton MHE capability for the Naval Construction Force (NCF) Seabees.

The scoop loader with six-ton MHE capability is versatile, demonstrates commonality with Marine Corps MHE, and provides NCF Seabees the capability to reliably, safely, and cost effectively meet critical reconstruction mission requirements in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The committee is aware the NCF Seabees are in the process of recapitalizing their fleet of construction equipment and MHE. The committee supports this initiative and notes that the high operational tempo coupled with the harsh environment of Iraq has consequently resulted in some equipment becoming uneconomical to either repair or to rebuild through service life extension programs or recapitalization programs. The committee understands construction equipment and MHE constitute the backbone of the NCF Seabees.

The committee recommends $23.9 million for materials handling equipment, an increase of $11.0 million for 66 transportable scoop loaders with six-ton MHE capability in order to accelerate the replacement of obsolete, worn out MHE.

Mine sweeper re-engining

The budget request contained no funding in ship propulsion equipment to re-engine ships one and two of the mine sweeper MCM-1 class.

The committee notes that except for ships one and two, ships of the mine sweeper MCM-1 class have been base-lined with upgraded diesel engines. The committee is aware that re-engining has improved performance and simplified the logistics tail and fleet maintenance by having common engines.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million to re-engine the first two ships of the class.

Naval tactical fiber switch system

The budget request contained $98.9 million for AEGIS support equipment, but included no funds to replace the existing high speed data switches at the AEGIS Computer Center (ACC), AEGIS Training and Readiness Center (ATRC), and Surface Combat Systems Center (SCSC).

The committee is aware that high speed switches at these three centers are critical enablers which allow for rapidly reconfigurable training, simulation, and testing on all 84 AEGIS combat system configurations. The existing switch systems represent single point failure modes, which due their age and limitations could substantially degrade readiness.

Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $2.9 million for the upgrade of switches at ACC, ATRC, and SCSC to the Naval Tactical Fiber Switch System.

Special operations swimmer/diver training craft

The budget request contained $15.7 million for standard boats, but included only $1.8 million to procure special operations swimmer/diver training craft. The committee understands that the Navy requires a total of 64 new craft to replace today's aging training craft fleet and accommodate the increased training requirements of the Naval Special Warfare Command.

The committee recommends $21.7 million for standard boats, an increase of $6.0 million for the procurement of an additional 24 special operations swimmer/diver training craft.

Surveillance towed array sensor system twin-line towed arrays

The budget request contained $3.8 million for Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) procurement, but included no funds for procurement of SURTASS twin-line towed arrays.

SURTASS is the mobile, tactical and strategic arm of the Navy's undersea surveillance capability that provides deep ocean and littoral acoustic detection and cueing for tactical weapon platforms against diesel and nuclear submarines, as well as surface vessels in any given area of operations worldwide. The committee notes that the limited number of thin-line towed array operational spares affects the preventive maintenance capability of the Navy's towed array maintenance and support infrastructure and the operational capability of the anti-submarine warfare tactical-auxiliary general ocean surveillance ships for collection of undersea acoustic data. The committee also notes that the Chief of Naval Operations identified the procurement of additional TB-29A twin-line array ship sets as a priority unfunded requirement.

The committee recommends $18.7 million for SURTASS procurement, including $14.9 million for the procurement of two TB-29A twin-line towed array ship sets.

Transportable anti-intrusion pontoon barrier system

The budget request contained $238.3 million for procurement of physical security equipment for the Navy.

The committee notes that the need exists for a transportable barrier system that can be used to protect U.S. Navy ships and other government assets while in port at home and abroad, and the absence of such systems in general use throughout the fleet. The committee is aware of the development by a Navy-industry team of a concept for such a transportable barrier system, and plans for development and evaluation of the system. The committee believes that such a system could significantly improve the safety and security of our ships and port facilities.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million for development and evaluation of the transportable anti-intrusion pontoon barrier system.

Ultrasonic maintenance tools

The budget request contained no funds for ultrasonic maintenance tools.

The committee is aware that the introduction of ultrasonic maintenance tools throughout the Navy has the potential to reduce maintenance man-hours by eliminating several time consuming maintenance procedures that are used to locate leaks, find bearing anomalies, and identify clogged fuel injectors.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.5 million for ultrasonic maintenance tools.

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NATIONAL DEFENSE SEALIFT FUND

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $1.6 billion for National Defense Sealift Fund. The committee recommends authorization of $1.7 billion, an increase of $48.5 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEM OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Maritime prepositioning ship lease buyout

The budget request, within the National Defense Sealift Fund, contained $749.8 million to exercise purchase options on 13 Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS). Because of the continuing need for these ships beyond the original 25-year lease term, the committee recommends the purchase of six ships in this fiscal year, at a total cost of $414.0 million. The committee also recommends a $103.0 million increase to the Navy's operation and maintenance account for the purpose of continuing the `capital hire payments' on the seven ships that are not being purchased. The committee expects that the Navy will exercise these options to purchase the following ships: MV SGT William R. Button, MV 1st LT Jack Lummus, MV 1st LT Baldomero Lopez, MV PFC Dewayne T. Williams, SS Maj Stephen W. Pless, and MV 2nd Lt John P. Bobo. The committee also expects that the funds provided in this Act will not be used to purchase fewer than the six ships enumerated above. The purchase of these ships will provide the Navy with the newest vessels within the total complement of Maritime Prepositioning ships, and ultimately provide the Navy with the greatest capability until the new Marine Prepositioning Force (Future) ships come on line.

While the Navy negotiated for purchase options on all 13 of the MPS, the exact option price is the greater of the termination value, which is set forth in the lease, and the current fair market value. The contract language provides that the `fair market value shall mean the price that a willing purchaser, that is not the charterer (Navy) or an affiliate of the charterer would pay to purchase the vessel in an arm's-length transaction.' If negotiations do not result in an agreement on the buy-out value, the market value is determined by an arbitration panel made up of three appraisers. The committee understands, on the first ships in the purchase process, that the appraised market value will be determined before the end of September 2005.

The committee expects, in the event that these appraised market values exceed in any significant way the termination values in the leases, that the Navy will withdraw its purchase notifications to the owners, and the congressional defense committees will be notified immediately of the Navy's future plans with respect to the MPS.

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PROCUREMENT, MARINE CORPS

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $1.4 billion for Procurement, Marine Corps. The committee recommends authorization of $1.4 billion, an increase of $29.9 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Combat casualty care equipment upgrade

The budget request contained $2.5 million for procurement of field medical equipment, but included no funds for the upgrade of combat casualty care equipment.

The committee notes that the U.S. Marine Corps combat casualty care equipment upgrade program provides improved field medical equipment to meet requirements highlighted by today's combat operations and littoral warfare. It permits Navy Medical Department corpsmen supporting Fleet Marine Force battalions to move quickly to stabilize and evacuate casualties during the critical `golden hour' after initial traumas, thereby vastly improving survival rates and recovery times. The program procures state-of-the-art, lightweight, standard litters and litter load carriage tools, pelvic stabilization devices, tactical airway tools, trauma gloves, and other kits, and on-board, life-saving medical kits for tactical vehicles.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.2 million for the combat casualty care equipment upgrade program.

Family of construction equipment

The budget request contained $19.7 million for family of construction equipment, but contained no funds for procurement of the Mobi-Mat Helipad System.

The Mobi-Mat Helipad System is a commercial-off-the-shelf 55 x 100 helicopter landing pad made out of 12 rolls/panels of a lightweight, patented, polyester mesh that is anchored to the ground and is designed to reduce sand clouds and foreign object damage by creating a safe landing platform for all types of aircrafts, including rotorcraft. The committee recognizes this system decreases maintenance costs of rotorcraft engines and rotor blades while also enhancing the safety, reliability, and performance of rotorcraft operating in harsh, desert environments. The committee notes this system is being used extensively and successfully in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Therefore, the committee recommends $23.7 million, an increase of $4.0 million to replace worn out Mobi-Mat Helipad Systems.

Marines tactical remote sensor system

The budget request contained $18.4 million for the Tactical Remote Sensor System (TRSS).

The committee recognizes the importance of TRSS to provide state-of-the-art ground surveillance for continuous, unattended, all-weather detection, location and monitoring of enemy activity. The committee notes the product improvement plan for TRSS to replace inventories of obsolete sensors with those that autonomously provide better classification of targets and enemy activity. The committee also notes TRSS is an unfunded Marine Corps requirement.

The committee recommends an increase of $8.9 million for TRSS product improvement.

Marines topographic equipment

The budget request contained no funding for the Topographic Production Capability Components (TPCC), an unfunded Marine Corps requirement.

The committee recognizes the importance of TPCC to provide geographic and geospatial analysis and production to marines on the move, and to the Joint Task Force Commander and the Marine Component Commander through a system of highly transportable modular systems. The committee notes that the continuous deployment of intelligence battalions in support of the global war on terrorism has reduced the equipment life of the topographic gear. Additionally, the committee notes that marines rely on TPCC products more and more, and this has lead to an increasing requirement for TPCC systems in the field.

Therefore, the committee recommends $1.8 million for the Marine Corps TPCC program.

Night vision equipment

The budget request contained $20.8 million for night vision equipment, but included no funds to procure the Close Quarters Battle Sight (CQBS) system.

The Marine Corps mission needs statement states the M4 Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Weapon must be capable of effective employment in all environments. The CQBS system is a day/night weapon sight that can be outfitted on the M4 CQB. The CQBS employs thermal technology which increases the effectiveness of the M4 CQB in all weather conditions, to include the penetration of light foliage, smoke, dust, and camouflage. The committee understands that the CQBS augments M4 CQB capability and acts as a critical combat enabler for marines participating in the global war on terrorism.

The committee notes 54 CQBS systems were procured by the Marine Corps in fiscal year 2005 for use in an initial operational assessment. The committee recognizes the initial findings of this operational assessment have exceeded the Marine Corps expectations and the Marine Corps now requires additional funds to expand this initial operational assessment to a more realistic test-bed, to include further testing of the CQBS thermal capability.

The committee supports this expansion and therefore, the committee recommends $30.8 million for night vision equipment, an increase of $10.0 million to procure an additional 715 CQBS systems to expand the ongoing operational assessment.

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AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $12.0 billion for Aircraft Procurement, Air Force. The committee recommends authorization of $12.8 billion, an increase of $819.8 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

A-10 litening advanced targeting pod

The budget request included $644.2 million for other production charges, but contained no funds for the Litening advanced targeting pod. The committee is aware that the Litening advanced targeting pod has been used extensively in the global war on terrorism for precision targeting, and that the Air Force is seeking to maximize the procurement of advanced targeting pods and accelerate pod delivery to meet urgent requirements. The A-10 has been one of the weapon systems most heavily called upon for close air support during recent combat operations, yet many of the Air Force Reserve A-10s do not have advanced targeting pods. The Litening advanced targeting pod is the Air Force's preferred solution for upgrading the precision targeting capabilities of the A-10.

The committee recommends $35.4 million for 24 pods for Air Force Reserve A-10s.

AN/ARS-6 V12 personnel locator system

The budget request contained $50.5 million for modifications of the HH-60 helicopter, but included no funds for the AN/ARS-6 version 12 (V12) personnel locator system (PLS) modification for MH-60 combat search and rescue helicopters of the Air National Guard (ANG).

The committee notes that Congress appropriated $2.8 million in fiscal year 2004 for the AN/ARS-6 V12 PLS modification for the ANG MH-60 rotorcraft as part of a two phased approach. The $2.8 million in the first phase provided the necessary resources to integrate, test, evaluate and certify the new AN/ARS-6 V12 PLS aboard the MH-60 helicopter, as well as modify six Air National Guard MH-60 helicopters. The second phase would leverage $3.0 million to complete integration and procure the necessary AN/ARS-6 V12 PLS units to outfit the remaining 12 ANG MH-60 helicopters. The current version, the AN/ARS-6 V3, is unable to communicate with newer combat survival radios/beacons such as the combat survivor evader locator radio, the PRC-112 family of radios, and the 406 emergency locator transmitter.

Therefore, the committee recommends $53.5 million for HH-60 modifications, an increase of $3.0 million to meet an unfunded requirement of the Air National Guard for MH-60 AN/ARS-6 V12 PLS upgrades.

C-17

The C-17 is a strategic cargo aircraft, capable of rapid delivery to main operating bases, or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft is also capable of performing tactical airlift and airdrop missions when required. The C-17 is currently procured under a multiyear procurement contract, in which the funding for the last aircraft is planned to be appropriated in fiscal year 2007 with the last deliveries under the existing contract scheduled for fiscal year 2008. The budget request includes $2,709.9 billion for 15 C-17 aircraft and $445.4 million for advance procurement of the final 12, of the current 60-aircraft multiyear procurement contract. The Department of the Air Force currently plans for an inventory of 180 C-17 aircraft.

In the committee report (H. Rept. 108-491) accompanying the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), the committee strongly urged the Department of the Air Force to budget for continued C-17 procurement

through a multiyear procurement program to procure at least 42 additional C-17 aircraft. The Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command testified to the Projection Forces Subcommittee on March 17, 2004, that at least 42 additional C-17 aircraft will be required to meet future airlift needs. To maintain the current 15-per year production rate beyond fiscal year 2007 for additional C-17 aircraft, the Department of the Air Force requires authorization for a follow-on multiyear contract beginning in fiscal year 2006.

Accordingly, the committee recommends a provision (Section 131) that authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into a multiyear contract beginning in fiscal year 2006 for 42 additional C-17 aircraft in accordance with section 2306b of title 10, United States Code.

C-130 modifications

The budget request contained $185.7 million for C-130 modifications, of which $7.2 million was for the procurement and installation of the large aircraft infra-red counter-measures (LAIRCM) system on active duty C-130 aircraft, but included no funds to procure or install the LAIRCM system on the Air Force Reserve Command's (AFRC) HC-130 and C-130 fleets. Additionally, $4.3 million of the C-130 modifications budget request was for procurement and installation of the APN-241 radar on Air Force Special Operations Command C-130s, but the budget request included no funds to procure or install the APN-241 on the AFRC's C-130 aircraft fleet.

The LAIRCM system consists of ultra-violet missile warning sensors, a missile tracking system, small laser turret assemblies, and processors to detect, track and counter incoming infra- red (IR)-guided missiles. The committee notes that the LAIRCM system provides a significantly improved defensive capability for large aircraft to counter the IR man-portable air defense system threats, and believes that this capability should be installed on the AFRC's HC-130 and C-130 fleets as soon as possible. Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $32.0 million for procurement and installation of the LAIRCM system on the AFRC's HC-130 and C-130 fleets.

The AN/APN-241 is a weather and navigation radar that replaces the 1950's-era AN/APN-59 radar currently installed on the AFRC's C-130 aircraft fleet. The committee understands that the AN/APN-59, in addition to being obsolete, has a mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) rate of 50 hours and is very costly to maintain, while the AN/APN-241 radar has significantly improved performance capabilities, and has a MTBF rate of 1000 hours. The committee also understands that procurement and installation of the AN/APN-241 radar is the second highest C-130 unfunded priority for the AFRC. Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $19.7 million for this purpose.

In total, the committee recommends an increase of $51.7 million for C-130 modifications.

F-15E

The budget request contained no funds for the procurement of F-15E aircraft.

The committee notes that the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287) appropriated $110.0 million for the procurement of two additional F-15E aircraft, but understands that the Department of the Air Force requires additional funds for this purpose.

Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $65.0 million for F-15E procurement, understands that an additional $65.0 million will be required to complete the procurement of two F-15Es, and encourages the Department of the Air Force to budget for this amount in future budget requests.

F-16 bomb rack unit-57

The budget request contained $24.1 million for war consumables, but included no funds to procure the F-16 bomb rack unit (BRU)-57 for the Air National Guard (ANG).

The BRU-57 allows the F-16 aircraft to carry and employ four one thousand pound precision guided munitions (PGMs), twice as many as its current capabilities. The committee understands that the ANG has identified a requirement to equip its F-16 fleet with the BRU-57, and believes that this action will enhance the value of the F-16 ANG units that are deployed as part of the Air Force's Air Expeditionary Forces.

The committee recommends $29.4 million for war consumables, an increase of $5.3 million for procurement of the F-16 BRU-57 for the ANG.

Global hawk

The budget request contained $398.4 million in Air Force aircraft procurement for the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program.

The committee is extremely concerned with the elevated costs of the Global Hawk UAV program, which has resulted in a recent congressional notification of an overall cost overrun of 18 percent. Since 2001, the Air Force has restructured the Global Hawk program twice and these poorly designed restructurings have resulted in significant cost growth, which is three times higher now than before the program restructure.

The committee strongly supports the Global Hawk program and believes that it is an essential element of our national intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability. However, this program must be finally brought under proper management control.

The committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to implement program management controls that: limit program execution to the approved requirements and contains further unapproved requirements growth, stabilizes the vehicle and sensor design such that significant changes are not required, executes the program within the approved baseline budget and schedule, and focuses the government and industry management's attention on production efficiency of air frames and sensors. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the Secretary's implementation of program management controls by October 1, 2005. Additionally, the committee directs the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees a quarterly earned value management report.

The committee recommends $368.5 million for the procurement of four Global Hawk air vehicles and one ground station, a decrease of one vehicle and $29.9 million.

Joint strike fighter

The budget request contained $152.4 million for Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) advance low-rate initial production procurement. This amount would fund the long-lead procurement items necessary to build five conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) Air Force variants, which would be fully funded in fiscal year 2007 and planned for use in tactics and training development.

The JSF program is an aircraft system development and demonstration program which is developing a family of three strike fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. About 70 percent of the parts for all three fighter variants will be common. The Air Force CTOL variant will replace the F-16 and A-10 fleets; the Navy variant, or aircraft carrier version (CV), will complement the F/A-18E/F; and the Marine Corps variant, or short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) version, will replace the AV-8B and the F/A-18C/D fleets.

During the past year, the JSF program has addressed a projected weight growth problem in all three JSF variants by making design changes. The extra weight in the March 2004 JSF designs would have significant performance implications because the JSF in that weight configuration would not meet many key performance parameters identified as necessary for JSF variants to accomplish their planned missions. While the committee is encouraged that the Department of Defense has identified those weight problems and has aggressively addressed those issues during the past year, it notes that the first JSF flight, now scheduled for late August 2006, will not be constructed with the redesigned, lower-weight JSF production configuration which has been developed during the past year. Instead, the committee understands that the first STOVL variant will be the first JSF to fly with reduced-weight configuration in early fiscal year 2008 and the first reduced-weight CTOL variant is scheduled to fly by mid-year in fiscal year 2008. Since the Department will not know until early fiscal year 2008 whether its efforts to reduce weight will actually result in the JSF meeting required performance parameters, the committee believes that the obligation of funds to begin low-rate initial production in fiscal year 2007 is premature and, accordingly, the authorization of advance procurement funds for this effort in fiscal year 2006 is also premature.

Therefore, the committee recommends no funds for JSF advance procurement, a decrease of $152.4 million.

Additionally, the committee understands that during the preparation of the fiscal year 2006 budget request that there were efforts by some within the military services to eliminate planned budgets for the JSF competitive engine development program. Despite those views, the committee also understands that the Secretary of Defense ensured that the engine program was nominally funded. The committee believes that a two-engine source for the single-engine JSF would be the most cost effective and operationally effective engine solution during the JSF's service life, and therefore expects that the Secretary, along with Department of the Navy and the Department of the Air Force, will remain committed to the development of competitive engines for the JSF.

KC-130J and C-130J

In the appropriation Aircraft Procurement, Navy, the budget request contained $1,092.7 million for 12 KC-130J aircraft for the Marine Corps, but included no funds for advance procurement of KC-130J aircraft in fiscal year 2007. In the appropriation Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, the budget request contained $99.0 million for logistics support of the Air Force's C-130J fleet, but included no funds for either procurement of C-130J aircraft or for advance procurement of C-130Js in fiscal year 2007.

Through fiscal year 2005, both the C-130J and KC-130J aircraft were procured through a 62-aircraft, six-year multiyear procurement contract authorized by section 131 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314), beginning in fiscal year 2003. Because the multiyear contract requires the procurement of four KC-130Js and nine C-130Js in fiscal year 2006 and a fiscal year 2006 payment for advance procurement of four KC-130Js and nine C-130Js in fiscal year 2007, the KC-130J and C-130J budget request would break an existing multiyear contract after the third year, of the planned six-year contract, and terminate production of all C-130J and KC-130J aircraft variants after fiscal year 2006. While the committee notes that both multiyear cancellation costs and C-130J production termination costs are unknown at this time, it understands that estimates for these costs are not included in KC-130J and C-130J budgets beyond fiscal year 2006.

The committee understands that the budget requests for both the C-130J and KC-130J were finalized late in the Department of Defense's (DOD) budget preparation process. However, the committee notes that requirements for the number of C-130Js have yet to be determined in the DOD's Mobility Capability Study (MCS), planned for completion later in fiscal year 2005 and in DOD's Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), scheduled for release in early fiscal year 2006, and believes that a decision on whether to cancel the KC-130J and C-130J multiyear contract, or to terminate C-130J production, should be informed by the results of both the MCS and QDR, and budgeted accordingly.

Consequently, the committee recommends that the KC-130J and C-130J multiyear contract proceed as previously planned for fiscal year 2006, and recommends the following budget request adjustments: in Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, an increase of $645.0 million for nine C-130J aircraft, an increase of $90.0 million for advance procurement of nine C-130Js in fiscal year 2007; and, in Aircraft Procurement, Navy, a decrease of $800.9 million and eight KC-130J aircraft, and an increase of $46.0 million for advance procurement of four KC-130J aircraft in fiscal year 2007.

Link 16 support and sustainment

The budget request included $157.6 million in PE 27434F for Link 16 support and sustainment. In fiscal year 2005, Congress appropriated $3.4 million for the Link 16 Pocket J program. Pocket J provides a deployable Link 16 capability that fills gaps in Link 16 air space command and control coverage within the continental United States or in austere, remote locations.

The committee supports the Pocket J program and its capability to provide ground-based Link 16 coverage in support of North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) air operations center command and control aircraft for homeland air defense. The committee views the production and deployment of Pocket J units to establish local Link 16 coverage over major U.S. cities and other potential targets as an urgent need in addressing the core homeland defense mission of airspace command and control.

The committee is concerned with the Air Force's lack of funding for this program, and believes that an efficient production line for Pocket J equipment should match the requirements set forth by both Air Force Air Combat Command and Electronic Systems Command. Further, Pocket J is intended to be interoperable with the joint tactical radio system (JTRS). However, JTRS development and procurement should not constrain the development and production of the Pocket J program. Currently, NORAD has no other system to provide Link 16 situational awareness data link capability until the Federal Aviation Administration radio sites are JTRS equipped in 2020 or later.

The committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to initiate Pocket J production at an efficient rate until the required Link 16 coverage is established that will address threats to both cities and high-valued targets across the United States.

Predator unmanned aerial vehicle

The budget request contained $125.6 million for the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), including $31.6 million for the MQ-1 Predator A UAV and $25.0 million for two fully-equipped MQ-9 Predator B systems.

The committee recognizes the proven, leap-ahead technological advantage provided by the Predator A and Predator B UAVs. The committee notes the particular advantage provided by Predator B in terms of greater payload, speed, and altitude. The committee applauds the success achieved by recent collaboration between the Air Force and the contractor to improve system performance. The committee recognizes such efforts as a necessary aspect of advanced acquisition system development. The committee urges the Air Force to build upon such recent success and rapidly take steps to improve, refine, and streamline operational tactics, techniques, and procedures. The committee urges greater usage and availability of Predator A assets and recommends an acceleration of the more capable Predator B system.

The committee recommends $210.6 million for Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, an increase of $85.0 million for six additional, fully-equipped, Predator B UAV aircraft and related support.

Senior scout

The budget request contained $185.7 million for the C-130 aircraft, but contained no funding for Senior Scout's increased response capabilities.

The Senior Scout system is an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance suite of equipment configured in a shelter capable of installation in non-dedicated C-130E/H aircraft. The system provides capabilities to exploit, geo-locate and report signals of interest to air and ground component commanders. The program is funded through the tactical cryptologic unit program through the Air Force. It supplies three, C-130 capable roll-on-roll-off sheltered systems ground Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) components to the 169th intelligence squadron (IS), Utah, Air National Guard (ANG). The squadron has been deployed numerous times since September 11, 2001. The Senior Scout is supported solely by the 169th IS, which is a repository of uniquely skilled ANG linguists and a core component of the Air Force's airborne linguist pool. The Senior Scout system package can be deployed with these skilled linguists and analysts with the system installed on any premodified aircraft within 24 hours. The committee believes that this type of SIGINT approach to tactical warfighting in the global war on terrorism is the right method in the global war on terrorism.

The committee recommends an increase of $7.0 million for the manufacturing of an additional Senior Scout sheltered system for increased capability and enhanced response to the global war on terrorism and the war on drugs.

The committee understands the value of `Reach-Back' ground facilities to the C-130 Senior Scout capability. This capability provides a ground facility with the ability to simultaneously handle multiple airborne missions and a variety of `Reach-Back' applications, including remote operator workstations, live audio, and digital mission data distribution and storage. This real-time, beyond line-of-sight capability for Senior Scout will help alleviate critical operational tempo loads on the limited number of high-demand specialty operators.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.2 million to fund a new satellite antenna and associated software that would enhance dissemination of wider bandwidth data streams for the `Reach-Back' capability for the Senior Scout system.

U-2 senior year electro-optical system focal planes

The budget request contained $68.4 million for the U-2 systems, but contained only $0.8 million for the senior year electro-optical reconnaissance system-2 (SYERS-2) sustainment.

The committee notes that the global war on terrorism has increasingly relied on the near real-time imagery capability of the SYERS-2 system to provide multi-band spectral imaging for targeting precision munitions. The unfunded request reflects the notable deficiency in visible focal plane arrays (FPA) acquisition for the SYERS-2 system, as well as the depot repair needed for the equipment for continued persistent surveillance to the warfighter.

The committee recommends $75.2 million, for the purchase and sustainment of SYERS-2 FPAs, an increase of $6.8 million.

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AMMUNITION PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $1.0 billion for Ammunition Procurement, Air Force. The committee recommends authorization of $1.0 billion, the budget request, for fiscal year 2006.

MISSILE PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $5.5 billion for Missile Procurement, Air Force. The committee recommends authorization of $5.5 billion, the budget request, for fiscal year 2006.

OTHER PROCUREMENT, AIR FORCE

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $14.0 billion for Other Procurement, Air Force. The committee recommends authorization of $14.1 billion, an increase of $66.1 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Combat survivor radios

The budget request contained a total of $55.3 million for 4,910 combat survivor evader locator (CSEL) radios for the Department of Defense (DOD). Of this total, $15.7 million was included in the appropriation Other Procurement, Army in a line entitled `Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL)' for 1,349 CSEL radios; $2.0 million was in the appropriation Other Procurement, Navy in a line entitled `Communications Items Under $5M' for 202 CSEL radios; $12.9 million was also included in the appropriation Other Procurement, Navy in a line entitled `Aviation Life Support' for 1,313 CSEL radios; and $24.7 million was included in the appropriation Other Procurement, Air Force in a line entitled `Combat Survivor Evader Locator' for 2,046 CSEL radios.

The CSEL radio provides combat forces with secure, encrypted, low probability of exploitation, two-way, over the horizon, near real-time, data-burst communications with precise location and non-secure, unencrypted line-of-site voice and beacon capability to support survival evasion, and personnel recovery operations. While the committee supports the procurement of CSEL radios to meet current and future survivor communications, it understands that there are requirements for approximately 40,000 survivor radios, but only a third of these have thus far been met since CSEL procurement began in fiscal year 2001. Since CSEL radios may not be available to some units scheduled for combat deployments, the committee understands that alternate survival radios are being procured by obligating funds appropriated for operations and maintenance, and the committee believes that procurement funds should also be made available for either the CSEL, or an alternate survival radio, to meet immediate user requirements.

To reflect a more responsive survival radio procurement program in the Department, the committee recommends that line item titles in both the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force be changed as follows: a decrease of $15.7 million in the appropriation Other Procurement, Army in the line entitled `Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL)' and a corresponding $15.7 million increase in a new line entitled `Combat Survivor Radios;' and a decrease of $24.7 million in the appropriation Other Procurement, Air Force in the line entitled `Combat Survivor Evader Locator' and a corresponding $24.7 million increase in a new line entitled `Combat Survivor Radios.' For the Department of the Navy, the committee believes that funds budgeted in Other Procurement, Navy for CSEL radios could be obligated for either the CSEL or alternate survival radios.

Digital airport surveillance radar and Department of Defense advanced automations system

The budget request included $51.9 million for the national airspace system including $42.4 million for the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR) and $7.4 million for the Department of Defense Advanced Automation System (DAAS). These systems are being procured to replace Vietnam era air traffic control and air surveillance systems at defense locations in coordination with the air traffic control modernization program of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The committee is aware that accelerating the deployment of DAAS and DASR will improve military operations and homeland defense, increase interoperability between military and civilian aviation systems, and reduce operations and maintenance costs.

The committee recommends an increase of $7.5 million for DAAS and DASR deployment to one additional facility, and directs that priority be given to facilities with aircraft assigned to United States Strategic Command.

Force protection surveillance system

The budget request contained $35.9 million for various types of Air Force physical security systems, but included no funds for the force protection surveillance system (FPSS).

The FPSS consists of a tactical communications intercept system, a near real-time video surveillance system, and a tactical internet communications system for dissemination of surveillance information. The committee notes that Congress appropriated an increase of $1.0 million for fiscal year 2005, and believes that additional FPSSs should be acquired.

Therefore, the committee recommends $38.9 million for Air Force physical security systems, an increase of $3.0 million for the acquisition, deployment and integration of the FPSS into mission planning systems and surveillance platforms.

General information technology

The budget request contained $111.0 million for general information technologies, but included no funds for the science and engineering lab data integration (SELDI) program, the automatic asset following system (AAFS), or for the cluster computing initiative.

The Air Force Material Command's science and engineering lab captures, analyzes and disseminates lab test data to the Air Force's engineering and system overhaul operations. The SELDI program facilitates this mission by providing a maintenance and logistics information management tool that allows more rapid lab data access affecting overhaul operations, provides accident investigators with immediate access to lab results of failed components, enables component failure trend analysis, and implements a new acoustic signature sensors to ensure the proper chemical composition of materials and equipment. For fiscal year 2005, the committee recommended an increase of $8.0 million for the SELDI program, notes that $4.9 million was appropriated, and continues to believe its implementation would improve operational aircraft readiness, increase flight safety and reduce support costs. Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million for this purpose.

The AAFS has been developed as an effective tool for asset following operations, providing real-time, long-range data communication for the safety, security, management, and control of aircraft and vehicle fleet operations. The AAFS consists of a satellite transceiver, antennas, a control display unit, and application software. The committee understands that AAFS is already used throughout the United States, and believes that this capability could be applied to military forces engaged in homeland security operations, especially in the Air National Guard or Army National Guard. Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $3.2 million for the AAFS.

The cluster computing initiative would replace the Air Force Flight Test Center's current personal computers (PCs) and high performance computers (HPCs) with a more flexible computer architecture that would reduce maintenance and support costs. The committee understands that the cluster computer upgrade would also increase safety through improved test results, and that this upgrade is a priority for the Air Force Flight Test Center to support upcoming tests programs on the F-35, F/A-22, F-16 and B-52 mid-life extension. Consequently, the committee recommends an increase of $2.3 million for the cluster computing initiative. In total, the committee recommends $121.5 million for general information technologies, an increase of $10.5 million.

Mobile approach control system

The budget request contained $16.8 million for air traffic control and landing systems, but included no funds to procure a mobile approach control system (MACS).

The MACS provides military forces with next-generation mobile air traffic control services, day and night, in all weather conditions, to military and civilian aircraft, and will replace the aging TPN-19 and MPN-14K landing control centers employed by the Department of the Air Force combat communications squadrons and Air National Guard (ANG) air traffic squadrons. The committee understands that during Operation Enduring Freedom, the Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC) received 10 requests for the MACS, but only 6 could be met; and that during Operation Iraqi Freedom, ACC received 12 requests for the MACS but could only provide for 7. Additionally, the committee notes that the Air Force Chief of Staff has included MACSs for the ANG among his top four unfunded priorities for fiscal year 2006.

The committee recommends $51.4 million for air traffic control and landing systems, an increase of $34.6 million for two MACSs for the ANG, and encourages the Department to assign these MACSs to the 235th and 241st Air Traffic Control Squadrons.

Point of maintenance and combat ammunition system initiative

The budget request contained $14.6 million for mechanized material handling equipment, but included no funds for the point of maintenance and combat ammunition system initiative (OMX/CAS).

The POMX/CAS is an automatic data collection program developed by the Air Force Materiel Command's Automatic Identification Technology Program Office which streamlines mission critical data collection to reduce the burden on flight line personnel. The committee has supported POMX/CAS in prior years, notes that Congress appropriated increases for fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and believes that its implementation at additional Department of the Air Force installations will increase the timeliness and accuracy of maintenance date collection.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $22.6 million for mechanized material handling equipment, an increase of $8.0 million for the POMX/CAS.

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PROCUREMENT, DEFENSE-WIDE

OVERVIEW

The budget request for fiscal year 2006 contained $2.7 billion for Procurement, Defense-Wide. The committee recommends authorization of $2.7 billion, an increase of $37.6 million, for fiscal year 2006.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Chemical and biological defense procurement

The budget request contained $650.7 million for chemical and biological defense (CBD) procurement, including $198.0 million for procurement of installation force protection equipment, $97.2 million for individual protection equipment, $3.0 million for decontamination equipment, $62.3 million for the joint biological defense program, $31.8 million for collective protection equipment, and $258.3 million for contamination avoidance equipment.

The committee notes that limited funding for fielding the M22 automatic chemical agent detection alarm (ACADA) in the active and reserve components, forces units to use the obsolescent M8 chemical agent alarm, which is prone to false alarms. Congress added funds in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 to accelerate the fielding of the M22 ACADA.

The committee recommends an increase of $20.0 million for procurement of the M22 ACADA.

Chemical agents and munitions destruction

The budget request contained $1.4 billion for chemical agents and munitions destruction, including $1.2 billion for operation and maintenance, $47.8 million for research, development, test and evaluation, and $116.5 million for procurement. The budget request included no funds for construction of chemical agent and munitions destruction facilities.

The committee notes that to date more than 11,200 tons of lethal chemical agents and munitions, almost 36 percent of the total U.S. stockpile, have been safely destroyed in 4 operational chemical demilitarization facilities, and that 2 additional demilitarization facilities are scheduled to become operational in fiscal year 2005. The committee notes, however, that the budget request represents a decrease of $49.1 million (3.6 percent) from the amount contained in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-287) appropriation, despite the increased level of activity planned for the program in fiscal year 2006.

During the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee's hearing on April 6, 2005, the Department of Defense witnesses testified that based on current cost and schedule estimates the United States will not achieve the schedule for destruction of the stockpile mandated by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Treaty (S. Res. 75-105). Worst-case cost estimates for destruction of the stockpile range from $26.8 billion to $37.3 billion and estimates of the time required to complete destruction of the stockpile range from 2021 to 2030. The committee notes that the increased costs result primarily from the increased time required to destroy the stockpile at all of the stockpile sites, and that current planning estimates for construction and operation of Assembled Chemical Weapon Alternative (ACWA) demilitarization facilities at Pueblo, Colorado and Blue Grass, Kentucky significantly exceed the program baseline. The committee also notes that in January 2005, following a Defense Acquisition Board review of the program, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) directed assessment of alternatives that, if adopted, might permit the programmed cost and CWC schedule to be achieved. On March 23, 2005, the USD(AT&L) directed actions to implement the program within certified baseline estimates ($1.5 billion for Pueblo and $2.0 billion for Blue Grass) and on April 15, 2005, released the remainder of the fiscal year 2005 funds for the ACWA program to the project manager. The committee has been advised informally of requirements for additional military construction funding for Blue Grass Army Depot and recommends that the Department of Defense initiate a formal reprogramming request for those funds. The committee directs that the USD(AT&L) submit a report to the congressional defense committees by June 30, 2005, on the results of the assessment of alternatives and any recommendations for adjustments in the budget request or other actions required to reduce costs and increase the probability of achieving the CWC-mandated destruction schedule.

The committee further notes the ongoing review of proposals for disposal at a commercial hazardous waste water disposal facility of the hydrolysate that will result from the neutralization of the bulk VX agent at Newport, Indiana. The committee believes that the United States must proceed as rapidly as possible in destroying the stockpile to ensure the overall maximum safety of our citizenry and meet our international treaty commitments, but must also proceed objectively and deliberately in ensuring that the disposal of the hydrolysate in a commercial hazardous waste disposal facility would not compromise the public health and safety of the citizens or the environment near such a facility. The committee directs that the Army, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proceed expeditiously in a follow-on review and resolution of the remaining issues relating to the process for disposing of the effluent from the treated hydrolysate.

The committee directs the Secretary of the Army not to proceed with any action to transport or relocate VX hydrolysate (other than those small quantities necessary for laboratory evaluation of the disposal process) from the Newport Chemical Depot until:

(1) The health and environmental concerns raised by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their April 2005 report `Review of the U.S. Army Proposal for Off-Site Treatment and Disposal of Caustic VX Hydrolysate from the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility' have been addressed in a manner so that both the CDC and the EPA conclude that the process would not result in substantial ecological risk or risk to human health; and

(2) The Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that sending the VX hydrolysate off-site for treatment would result in significant cost and schedule savings compared to on-site disposal of the hydrolysate.

In addressing the issue of cost and schedule savings, the Secretary shall conduct and provide to the congressional defense committees a detailed cost-benefit analysis of both off-site treatment of the hydrolysate and on-site treatment methods, including chemical oxidation, wet-air oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, supercritical-water oxidation, solvated-electron technology, gas-phase chemical reduction, plasma arc technology, and biodegradation.

Elsewhere in this report the committee has recommended a provision that would transfer management of the ACWA program from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to the Secretary of the Army.

The committee recommends $47.8 million for Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction research, development, test and evaluation; $116.5 million for Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction procurement; and $1.2 billion for Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction operations and maintenance.

Force protection

The committee is aware of the continued need to strengthen force protection measures to better protect troops against indirect fire attack. The committee expects the Department of Defense (DOD) to focus its force protection efforts on identified threats facing troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, including but not limited to rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and artillery. The committee notes there are commercially available products designed for use as security forces buildings, overhead cover systems, blast resistant barriers, and mobile container housing units which have been tested by U.S. military testing facilities. These products have been proven to withstand .50 caliber armor-piercing rounds, low-yield bomb blasts, and 120 millimeter artillery rounds and should be considered for deployment as force protection measures.

Similarly, the committee notes that in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, Congress appropriated $1.0 million for Rapid Deployment Fortification Wall (RDFW) research and development as part of the Marine Corps Improved Expedient Fortification Construction program. The RDFW is an expandable, stackable, modular wall made of resilient, lightweight, environmentally-responsible plastic that can augment sandbags. Further, the RDFW can enhance force protection while decreasing the manpower hours needed to expedite construction of fortifications. The committee encourages DOD's use of RDFW to complement traditional sandbag fortifications and other technologies currently in use. Combat forces should be supported with a complete force protection strategy and the Department should consider newly demonstrated capabilities in support of this strategy.

Persistent unmanned air vehicle intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance below the brigade level

The committee is concerned about the lack of persistent unmanned air vehicle (UAV) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability below the brigade level and the resulting negative impact on force protection.

The committee believes this ISR deficiency is the result of several factors including inadequate bandwidth and spectrum allocation, insufficient numbers of ground stations, and the lack of trained personnel. Force protection would be greatly enhanced by persistent aerial ISR. Therefore, until the UAV technology and personnel gaps are filled, the Secretary of Defense is encouraged to employ interim solutions for this mission.

Before the advent of UAVs, manned slow-speed forward air control (FAC) aircraft demonstrated the value of on-station tactical observers, trained in fire support and air control. An interim manned FAC would provide tactical commanders with valuable intelligence information, persistent surveillance, and on-scene coordination not fully available with the present ISR capabilities.

The committee encourages the Secretary to consider options to meet the urgent interim requirement needed for a day and night capable platform that can perform the persistent ISR function for units on the move and in forward areas.

Special Operations Forces intelligence systems

The budget request contained $27.6 million for Special Operations Forces (SOF) intelligence systems, but included only $4.5 million to initiate procurement of Joint Threat

Warning Systems-Air (JTWS-A) for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aircraft and contained only $2.2 million to procure the Special Operations Tactical Video System/Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition System (SOTVS/RSTA).

The committee understands that the JTWS-A provides AFSOC aircrews operating over hostile territory with modern, direct threat warning, replacing existing, unreliable threat warning systems currently in use.

The committee recognizes that remote surveillance capabilities and unattended ground sensors are increasingly important to the conduct of special operations missions. Modern equipment such as the SOTVS/RSTA is more capable, survivable, and portable than earlier systems; and is an important force multiplier for small, forwarded deployed special operating forces teams.

The committee believes that accelerated procurement of these systems will add significantly to special forces tactical capabilities and notes that both of these items are on the unfunded priority list of the Commander, Special Operations Command.

The committee recommends $45.6 million for SOF intelligence systems, an increase of $10.0 million for the procurement of an additional 16 JTWS-A and an increase of $8.0 million for additional SOTVS/RSTA.

Special weapons observation reconnaissance direct action system

The budget request contained $233.8 million for Special Operations Forces (SOF) operational enhancements, but included no funds for the Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Direct Action System (SWORDS). The committee understands that the SWORDS mobile weapons system is an innovative small robot armed with standard issue automatic weapons, allowing special forces operators to engage the enemy at a standoff distance of approximately 1,000 meters. The committee understands that the system has been successful in its initial deployment in Afghanistan.

The committee recommends $243.8 million for SOF operational enhancements, an increase of $10.0 million for the procurement of additional SWORDS mobile weapons systems.

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ARMY PROGRAMS

SUBTITLE B--ARMY PROGRAMS

SECTION 111--MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR UH-60M/MH-60 HELICOPTERS

This section would authorize the Secretary of the Army to enter into a multiyear contract, in accordance with section 2306b of title 10, United States Code, beginning with the fiscal year 2007 program year, for procurement of up to 461 helicopters in the UH-60M configuration, and, acting as the executive agent for the Department of the Navy in the MH-60S configuration.

SECTION 112--MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR APACHE MODERNIZED TARGET ACQUISITION DESIGNATION SIGHTS AND PILOT NIGHT VISION SENSORS

This section would authorize the Army to enter into multiyear contracts for the procurement of Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sights and Pilot Night Vision Sensors.

SECTION 113--MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR APACHE BLOCK II CONVERSION

This section would authorize the Army to enter into multiyear contracts for the procurement of Apache Block II conversions.

SECTION 114--ACQUISITION STRATEGY FOR TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLE PROGRAMS

This section would require the Army and the Marine Corps to enter into a joint service program for the procurement of a new vehicle class of tactical wheeled vehicles. The committee understands the Army is actively engaged in implementing a revised tactical wheeled vehicle (TWV) modernization and recapitalization strategy with the intent to recapitalize, modernize and eventually replace its existing light, medium, and heavy tactical wheeled vehicles with either a new next generation vehicle class or more capable recapitalized tactical wheeled vehicles that have integrated new technologies and incorporated lessons learned from operations involving the global war on terrorism. The committee supports Army investment into its TWV fleet. Cost reduction strategies, reliability and maintainability improvement initiatives, and life cycle support recommendations are encouraged by the committee.

The committee is aware that costs of Department of Defense weapons systems, including non-developmental platforms such as tactical wheeled vehicles continue to escalate and note the benefit competition can bring to weapon systems and vehicle platforms. The committee recognizes a major component of this TWV strategy involves a competition in calendar year 2006, defined as a watershed event by the Army.

The committee directs that should the Army or the Marine Corps as a result of this competition, choose to award a new non-developmental production contract for a new vehicle class of TWV other than those referenced above as modifications, upgrades or product improvements to the existing fleet, the contract should be executed as a joint service program between the Army and the Marine Corps. This joint service program should be validated and approved by the Joint Requirement Oversight Council and the Secretary of Defense.

The committee believes its imperative for the Department to take advantage of economies of scale in production of particular platforms that provide essentially the same function for ground force combat service support and logistic missions.

SECTION 115--LIMITATION ON ARMY MODULAR FORCE INITIATIVE

This section would set forth a $3.0 billion limitation on acquisition obligations by the Army towards the Modular Force Initiative in fiscal year 2006 until receipt by the congressional defense committees of a report outlining the specific requirements as stated in this provision. The committee understands the Army's force restructuring plan referred to as `Army Modularity' will require dramatic increases in its budget for personnel and equipment.

To date, the Department of Defense has announced that $48.0 billion has been budgeted for the Army for modularity for fiscal years 2005-2011. Minimal information has been provided to the congressional defense committees on defined requirements and budget detail. Further, the Army planned to fund the first two years of its modularity requirement through emergency supplemental appropriations, limiting the ability of the House Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Armed Services to exercise their oversight responsibilities. However, the committee was recently advised by the Army that the fiscal year 2006 budget request includes $788.0 million in its procurement request for modularity.

This section would limit the Army's ability to obligate funds authorized for procurement to not more than $3.0 billion until 30 days after submitting a report to the congressional defense committees for its modularity program. This report would include:

(1) The programs and the acquisition objectives for those programs;

(2) The budget included for modularity in the fiscal year 2007 Future Years Defense Program;

(3) The unfunded requirements, as applicable, that would preclude meeting the acquisition objective; and

(4) The acquisition plan for Army modularity funded in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005.

The conference report (H. Rept. 109-72) accompanying the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (Public Law 109-13) directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report by September 1, 2005, to the congressional defense committees detailing DOD's long-range plan for executing and funding modularity to include acquisition requirements. The committee encourages the Department to include the reporting requirements as required in this provision in its September 2005 report.

SECTION 116--CONTRACT REQUIREMENT FOR OBJECTIVE INDIVIDUAL COMBAT WEAPON--INCREMENT ONE

This section would require the Secretary of Army to award the contract for procurement of the Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW), Increment One using full and open competition. In addition, before appropriated funds are obligated, the Secretary shall provide a report to the congressional defense committees that certifies this contract was conducted using full and open competition.

The committee believes the Secretary of Army should examine the requirement for the OICW, Increment One to determine whether this is a developmental or non-developmental item and to determine accordingly the appropriate period for review for requests for proposals.

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NAVY PROGRAMS

SUBTITLE C--NAVY PROGRAMS

SECTION 121--VIRGINIA CLASS SUBMARINE PROGRAM

This section would limit the total amount obligated or expended for procurement of five Virginia class submarines designated as SSN-779, SSN-780, SSN-781, SSN-782, and SSN-783.

SECTION 122--LHA REPLACEMENT AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP PROGRAM

This section would require that the total amount obligated or expended for the procurement of each ship of the replacement amphibious assault ship (LHA(R)) program may not exceed $2.0 billion. Also, this section limits the obligation or expenditure of funds for the LHA(R) program until the Secretary of Defense certifies that the Joint Requirements Oversight Council has approved a detailed operational requirements document and there exists a stable design for the LHA(R) class of vessels.

SECTION 123--FUTURE MAJOR SURFACE COMBATANT, DESTROYER TYPE

This section would require that the total amount obligated or expended for the procurement of the future major surface combatant, destroyer type (DD(X)) may not exceed $1.7 billion each, and authorizes $700.0 million for technology development and demonstration for this class of vessel. Further, this section establishes acquisition plan requirements for the DD(X).

SECTION 124--LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP PROGRAM

This section would require that the total amount obligated or expended for the procurement of each ship for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, including the amounts for the mission models, may not exceed $400.0 million. Further, this section limits the acquisition of additional LCSs until the Secretary of Defense submits the results of an operational evaluation of the first four LCSs and certifies that a stable design exists for this class of vessels.

SECTION 125--AUTHORIZATION OF TWO ADDITIONAL ARLEIGH BURKE CLASS DESTROYERS

This section would authorize $2.5 billion for the construction of two additional Arleigh Burke class destroyers under a single, competitively awarded contract.

SECTION 126--REFUELING AND COMPLEX OVERHAUL OF THE U.S.S. CARL VINSON

This section would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to enter into a contract and commence overhaul of the U.S.S. Carl Vinson (CVN-70) nuclear aircraft carrier during fiscal year 2006 with funding provided in fiscal years 2006 and 2007.

SECTION 127--REPORT ON PROPULSION SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES FOR SURFACE COMBATANTS

This section would direct the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on the assessment of alternative propulsion methods for surface combatants. Operations and support costs, which include the cost of personnel, maintenance, and other costs such as fuel, represent a higher percentage of the total life cycle costs for Navy ships than research, development and procurement costs. Therefore, it is critical that the Navy make every effort to design future ships that are cost-effective to operate so that it can develop a force structure that is affordable and sustainable over the long term. In recent years, the Navy has used conventional propulsion systems that rely on fossil fuel for its surface combatants and nuclear propulsion systems for its submarines and most aircraft carriers. However, the committee is concerned that some of the assumptions and factors that have guided past Navy decisions on propulsion systems may require reassessment as the Navy looks to design an affordable force that is capable of meeting future security challenges. For example, technological advances have enabled greater efficiency in both nuclear and conventional propulsion systems in recent years. Moreover, oil prices have risen significantly in the past few years and global markets are likely to face future difficulties in meeting global demands for oil, particularly considering the explosive growth in some developing nations' economies.

The committee is aware that the Chief of Naval Operations guidance for 2005 directed the Naval Sea Systems Command to work with the Office of Naval Research to study and develop proposals for alternative propulsion methods for surface combatants. The committee supports the need for this study and directs the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report explaining the Navy's methodology, conclusions and recommendations of the study by the submission of the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2007, required by section 1105 of title 31, United States Code.

SECTION 128--AIRCRAFT CARRIER FORCE STRUCTURE

This section would mandate the Secretary of Defense to maintain a minimum force structure of 12 aircraft carriers. This section would further direct the Secretary to take all the necessary steps to maintain the USS John F. Kennedy in a fully mission capable status. Additionally, the committee would recommend authorization of $60.0 million for the operation and maintenance of the USS John F. Kennedy.

The committee believes that the Navy's aircraft carrier force structure must be maintained at 12 in order to meet potential global commitments. The committee notes that in order for the USS John F. Kennedy to be maintained at full operational capability, the Navy must reschedule the recently cancelled shipyard overhaul, and directs the Navy to do so. In the interim, the committee expects the Navy to take full advantage of routine maintenance outside a shipyard to maintain the USS John F. Kennedy as capable as possible until it enters the shipyard.

SECTION 129--CONTINGENT TRANSFER OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CVN-21 CARRIER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

This section would transfer $86.7 million for additional funding for construction of CVN-21 from Defense-wide Operation and Maintenance to Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy if the Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation certifies that such additional funds are sufficient to move CVN-21 construction start from fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2007.

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AIR FORCE PROGRAMS

SUBTITLE D--AIR FORCE PROGRAMS

SECTION 131--MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR C-17 AIRCRAFT

This section would authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into a multiyear contract, beginning with the fiscal year 2006 program year, for procurement of up to 42 additional C-17 aircraft.

SUBTITLE E--JOINT AND MULTISERVICE MATTERS

SECTION 141--REQUIREMENT THAT ALL TACTICAL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES USE SPECIFIED STANDARD DATA LINK

This section would direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure that all tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force are equipped with the standard tactical UAV data link known as the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) and configured to data formats consistent with the architectural standard for tactical UAVs, known as STANAG 4586. This provision applies to the Pioneer UAV, Shadow UAV, and other UAV types as determined by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. The committee would further direct the Secretary of each military department to submit a report to Congress providing the Secretary's certification as to whether or not all tactical UAVs are in compliance with the standard data link.

SECTION 142--LIMITATION ON INITIATION OF NEW UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS

This section would preclude procurement of new unmanned aerial vehicle systems by the military services without the written approval of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION

ARMY

TITLE II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, & EVALUATION

OVERVIEW

The budget request contained $69.4 billion for research, development, test, & evaluation (RDT&E). The committee recommends $69.4 billion, an increase of $112.9 million to the budget request.

ARMY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, & EVALUATION

OVERVIEW

The budget request contained $9.7 billion for Army research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E).

The committee recommends $9.8 billion, an increase of $43.5 million to the budget request.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Abrams improved track

The budget request contained $142.9 million in PE 63005A for combat vehicle and automotive advanced technology programs, of which, no funds were included for the Abrams Improved Track program. The Abrams Improved Track program expects to reduce life cycle costs of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank platform by 20 percent.

The committee is aware the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank platform, on average puts seven to eight years of operational use on a vehicle in a single year deployment to Iraq. The committee notes in some cases tanks have put on more than 1,000 miles of operational use per month in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The committee understands this higher level of operational tempo requires additional maintenance costs and also recognizes the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank will continue to be the primary combat vehicle in the Army's inventory until at least 2050. The committee understands the Abrams Improved Track program can generate better cost savings, and increase reliability, availability, and maintainability of the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank fleet.

Therefore, the committee recommends $147.5 million for PE 63005A, an increase of $4.8 million, to complete the final phase of development for the Abrams Improved Track program.

Accelerated development of heavy-fuel turbine engine

The budget request contained $48.3 million in PE 63003A for aviation advanced technology, but included no funds to accelerate development of light-weight heavy fuel turbine engines.

The committee notes that the modern battlefield mandates use of heavy fuel engines to simplify logistics and increase safety. The lightweight turbine engine offers advantages for aerial vehicles. In addition, the modern turbine engine coupled to emerging electrical generator technology offers the near-term ability to reduce size and weight of ground power generators by an order of magnitude.

The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 63003A to accelerate development of the heavy fuel turbine engine.

Advanced amputee treatment research and development

The budget request contained $74.7 million in PE 62787A for medical technology applied research, but included no funds to continue the program in clinical and applied collaborative research in amputee treatment, prosthetics, and rehabilitation.

The committee commends the Army for its efforts to initiate a collaborative applied and clinical prosthetic research activity in order to provide the best possible care for patients who have experienced combat injuries resulting in traumatic amputation. Established by the Army Surgeon General, the Amputee Care Center and the Army Amputee Patient Care Program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center provide state-of-the-art treatment and are the center of a multi-site, coordinated complex of facilities, which involve regional military medical centers, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other military and civilian treatment facilities. The goal of the program is to ensure that amputee patients receive the kind of care that will allow them to lead lives unconstrained by their amputation. The committee notes that a sustained research effort is necessary to achieve the goals of the program and strongly encourages the Secretary of the Army to provide funding in the program for that purpose in future budget requests.

The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 62787A to continue the Army program in clinical and applied collaborative research in amputee treatment, prosthetics, and rehabilitation.

Advanced battery technology initiative

The budget request contained $39.6 million in PE 62705A for applied research in electronics and electronic devices.

The committee continues to note continuing requirements for small, light-weight, efficient, and portable battery and non-battery power sources for U.S. forces and of on-going applied research and development activities of the military departments that address these requirements. The committee is aware of a number of emerging battery and non-battery power technologies that have the potential for meeting the requirements of the military services, including alkaline and lithium batteries, fuel cells and other technologies. The committee recommends that such technologies be considered for potential funded research and development under the services' on-going programs on the basis of technical merit, cost-effectiveness, and the potential of a particular technology to meet service needs.

The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 62705A for the portable battery power technology initiative.

Advanced carbon nanotechnology

The budget request contained $137.9 million in PE 61102A for defense research sciences, but included no funding for advanced carbon nanotechnology.

The committee is aware that advanced carbon nanotechnology has the potential for significant advances in the development of new sensors.

The committee recommends $143.9 million in PE 61102A for defense research sciences, an increase of $6.0 million for a multi-institution, peer reviewed program for development of advanced carbon nanotechnology.

Advanced lightweight composite armor materials for ballistic impact and blast protection

The budget request contained $17.6 million in PE 62105A for materials technology, but included no funding for advanced lightweight composite armor materials for ballistic impact and blast protection.

The committee is aware of the increasing ballistic and blast threat to vehicles on the battlefield. The committee notes that an integrated analytical, development, manufacturing and testing program is required to develop new higher performance, light weight composites for vehicle and personal armor.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 62105A for advanced lightweight armor materials.

Advanced weapons technology

The budget request contained $21.1 million in PE 62307A for advanced weapons technology.

The committee understands the need to carry out applied research in support of existing and future missile defense technologies. The committee is specifically aware of the need to conduct research on systemic issues common to Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, Patriot Advanced Capability-3/Medium Extended Air Defense System, Ground-based Midcourse Defense, and future systems in areas such as radar and radio frequency sensors, electronics and micro-fabrication, optical sensors, and composite material and structures.

The committee recommends $31.1 million in PE 62307A, an increase of $10.0 million for missile defense applied technology research conducted by the Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

Aerostat joint project office

The budget request contained $106.4 million in PE 12419A for the Aerostat Joint Project Office.

The committee understands the critical role that the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor (JLENS) program plays in cruise missile defense. The committee further understands that the Micro Electro Mechanical (MEMS) demonstration radar system is an important risk reduction effort in the JLENS acquisition strategy.

The committee recommends $108.4 million in PE 12419A, an increase of $2.0 million for MEMS demonstration radar system project completion and additional critical technology demonstration.

Applied communications and information networking

The budget request contained $45.3 million in PE 63008A for electronic warfare advanced technology, but included no funding for applied communications and information networking (ACIN).

The committee realizes that the goal of ACIN is to revolutionize military doctrine and methods by enhancing high-value military systems with rapidly advancing commercial information technologies and innovative applications of those technologies.

The committee supports the application of state-of-the art commercial technology to improve military systems and recommends an increase of $7.0 million in PE 63008A for ACIN.

Armored systems modernization

The budget request included $3.1 billion in PE 64645A for armored systems modernization, including $105.3 million for reconnaissance platforms and sensors; $86.4 million for unmanned ground vehicles; $2.5 million for unattended sensors; $61.6 million for sustainment; $2.3 billion for system of systems engineering and program management; and $549.2 million for manned ground vehicles, as part of approximately $3.9 billion total amount requested for the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program in over 50 program elements.

The Army had allocated $19.0 billion for FCS research and development during fiscal years 2004 through 2009. Last year the Army added two years to the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) Phase and increased the cost to $22.0 billion. Now the Army has delayed the program to 2016 and increased the development costs to $30.3 billion. Additionally, the

program has been restructured into four spirals that are designed to field incremental capability into the current force. Because of its size and importance to the Army, FCS would dominate the Army's investment accounts and priorities over the next decade. The announcement that modularity will be undertaken during the same time period as FCS development has caused concern because the combined costs of $30.3 billion in the Future Years Defense Program for FCS and $69.0 billion for modularity are well above the expected Army funding profile.

Under the FCS system-of-systems approach all 18 systems are developed simultaneously, even though major differences exist in the developmental and fielding timelines of these systems. Originally, there were 157 development programs, referred to as `complementary programs,' funded outside of the armored systems modernization-FCS program element. These `complementary programs,' described by the Army as necessary to completely field FCS are in most instances the on-going technology development that should have been completed for FCS before entry into SDD. The complementary programs and projects are just as much FCS program-related as the projects within the armored systems modernization program element. Although the FCS hallmark is network centric war fighting, armored systems modernization-FCS program element itself contains no project for a network. The network is formed by the Warfighter Information Network Tactical (WIN-T) and the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). Both of these systems are being developed outside of the FCS program structure as complementary programs. Further, JTRS has already been restructured due to schedule and cost overruns and now faces another restructure with an additional 24 month schedule delay and cost increase.

The committee has numerous concerns with the FCS program:

(1) The Office of the Secretary of Defense approved FCS entry into SDD in May 2003 without established program requirements, a network architecture or mature technologies. The Department of Defense historical acquisition record indicates that proceeding into SDD with unproven technology, will likely result in schedule slips and substantial cost overruns. And in fact, the FCS program has already been restructured at least three times. In a prepared statement for the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces on March 16, 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicated: `The FCS is at significant risk for not delivering required capability within budgeted resources. * * * The program's level of knowledge is far below that suggested by best practices or Department of Defense policy: Nearly 2 years after program launch and with $4.6 billion invested, requirements are not firm and only 1 of over 50 technologies are mature. As planned, the program will attain the level of knowledge in 2008 that it should have had in 2003. * * * To make FCS an effective acquisition program different approaches must be considered, including (A) setting the first stage of the program to demonstrate military capability, mature technology, and firm requirements; and (B) bundling its other capabilities into advanced technology demonstrations until they can be put in a future stage * * *;'

(2) FCS program requirements have yet to be established. Under the current organizational construct, the GAO indicates there are as many as 10,000 individual program and project requirements;

(3) Many of the FCS systems, including unmanned systems and sensors, have parallel research and development programs outside of FCS in the Army, other services, and/or the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). As an example, between what the Army classifies as FCS and non-FCS program elements, there are at least 10 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) projects in development. This does not include UAV programs being developed for the Army by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency;

(4) Technology maturity varies among the various systems and in most cases does not support being considered ready for SDD;

(5) How the FCS concept would provide for survivability against the asymmetrical threat that our military services have experienced in the global war on terrorism, remains to be demonstrated;

(6) The manned vehicle concepts are at least five tons heavier than what the Army has established as its manned vehicle weight requirement; and

(7) No current cost estimate exists for the FCS program. With the added cost of modularization, it is questionable whether both FCS and modularization are affordable.

The committee believes that the Army would benefit from a restructured FCS program that establishes a vision and future forces architecture for the Army as a whole. It is not productive to have a vision of two future Armies, one FCS-Army and the rest of the Army. Even under the best of circumstances, with everything going as planned and resources being available to fund all of the Army's extensive needs, by 2025, only 20 percent of the modularized Army would include FCS units. WIN-T, JTRS, UAV programs, ground sensors, and common operating environment, should be interoperable with the whole Army, not just the FCS-Army. Projects and supporting technology should be developed and demonstrated first and not based on a program schedule where the Army is trying `to invent on a schedule.'

The committee further believes that FCS should be defined by what is currently described as the system-of-systems common operating environment, program management, and sustainment, the largest current FCS project. The remaining projects should be combined with program elements of similar purpose and/or commensurate with their requirements and technology maturity. Further, the Department of the Army should establish the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information technology architecture for the future force and mandate adherence to this architecture in the development of new systems as well as modification of legacy systems.

Accordingly, the committee directs that:

(1) A new program element, PE 64782A, be designated FCS common operating environment within SDD and comprised of the current projects F55 and F61, with an authorization of $2.3 billion, the budget request;

(2) A new program element, PE 63645A, be designated armored systems modernization within the advanced component development and prototype budget activity, comprised of the current project designated F57, with an authorization of $100.0 million, a reduction of $449.2 million;

(3) A new program element, PE 63303A, be designated reconnaissance platforms and sensors within the advanced component development and prototypes budget activity, comprised of Project F52, class I and IV reconnaissance platforms and sensors, with an authorization of $47.2 million, the budget request;

(4) Class II and III reconnaissance platforms and sensors be incorporated into PE 63003A, with an authorization of $58.1 million, the budget request;

(5) Project F54, unattended sensors, be incorporated into PE 64766A, Tactical Surveillance Systems, with an authorization of $2.5 million, the budget request; and

(6) A new program element, PE 63304A, be designated robotic ground systems within the advanced component development and prototypes budget activity, comprised of Project F53, unmanned ground vehicles, with an authorization of $86.4 million, the budget request.

Army medical peer-reviewed applied research and advanced technology development initiative

The budget request contained $74.7 million in PE 62787A for applied research in medical technology and $45.2 million in PE 63002A for medical advanced technology development.

The committee notes that the primary goal of medical research and development in the Department of Defense is to sustain medical technology to effectively protect and improve the survivability of U.S. armed forces in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: conventional battlefields, areas of low-intensity conflict, and military operations other than war. Operations of U.S. forces in the global war on terrorism have placed a premium on the need for a range of medical technologies in the areas of infectious diseases, combat casualty care, military operational medicine, and health hazards for materials, that are the core applied technology for the Army's military technology applied research program. Changing military threats on the world's battlefields and homeland security requirements place more emphasis on the need for responsive technology options that could address the threat; the ability to quickly assess, develop, and demonstrate the technology; and then, the ability to rapidly insert or deploy the technology to the field. The committee also notes the wealth of new concepts from the nation's medical science and technology base and the recommendations that the committee receives for exploitation of particular technologies for addressing emerging medical requirements. The committee endorses the Army's peer-reviewed medical technology research and development program in which emerging medical technologies and concepts compete for funding on the basis of peer-reviewed technical merit and the contribution that the technology would, if implemented, make to the health and well being of the armed forces.

The committee recommends an increase of $15.0 million in PE 62787A and an increase of $15.0 million in PE 63002A, for the Army medical technology peer-reviewed applied research and advanced technology development programs, respectively.

Army space and missile defense architecture analysis program

The budget request contained $83.1 million in PE 63327A for Army air and missile defense systems engineering, but included no funding for the Army space and missile defense (ASMD) architecture analysis program.

The committee places a priority on the development of a transformational capability. The committee recognizes the contributions of the ASMD architecture analysis program towards providing critical analytical, modeling and simulation tools supporting advanced concepts and architectures for the Army's integrated air and missile defense systems program.

The committee recommends $88.1 million in PE 63327A, an increase of $5.0 million for the ASMD architecture analysis program.

Center for rotorcraft innovation

The budget request included $34.3 million in PE 62211A for Aviation and Applied Research and Technology, but included no funds for the Center for Rotorcraft Innovation (CRI).

The Center for Rotorcraft Innovation is a joint effort between the rotorcraft industry, academic research centers and government partners to increase rotorcraft research in the United States. CRI will expand collaborative rotorcraft research and development already underway between the rotorcraft industry and its government partners in the National Rotorcraft Technology Center, and will focus its new research efforts on dual-use technologies that have national security and homeland defense applications. CRI is the only effort of its kind and will be a catalyst for the long-term growth of the U.S. rotorcraft industry.

Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 62211A for the CRI.

Centers of excellence

The budget request contained $82.0 million in PE 61104A for university and industry research centers and $1.9 million for university centers of excellence.

The committee notes the current Army effort to harness university research expertise for Army-unique science and technology problems. The committee further notes the Army initiative to partner university researchers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) with Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Battle Labs for the acceleration of research to actual technology demonstration. The committee notes current priorities include efforts to improve tactical mobility, reduce logistics infrastructure, and increase rotorcraft survivability. The committee supports such efforts yet urges further advances in the cognitive research areas of modeling and simulation, data fusion, and human systems integration.

The committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE 61104A for university centers of excellence to support human systems integration modeling, simulation, data fusion, and related efforts.

Combat vehicle electronics

The budget request contained $12.0 million in PE 23735A for combat vehicle improvements, but included no funding to develop standardized next generation electronics architectures for current combat vehicle programs.

The committee is aware that current combat vehicles face accelerated component obsolescence issues.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE 23735A to develop standardized next generation electronics architectures for current and future combat vehicle programs.

Common remote operating weapon station

The budget request contained $34.6 million in PE 64601A for infantry support weapons but included no funds for the Common Remote Operating Weapon Station (CROWS) Light development program. The budget request also contained $56.4 million in PE 63640M but included no funds for the CROWS program.

The CROWS system is a tactical vehicle mounted, stabilized remote weapon station system that provides day and night target detection, recognition, and engagement at long distances while allowing the soldier to remain protected by an armored vehicle; accurate shoot on-the-move capability, and one-shot-one-hit accuracy that minimizes collateral damage. The

committee notes that the United States Central Command issued an urgent needs statement for additional CROWS systems in December 2004. The committee applauds the Army's expeditious manner in satisfying this urgent requirement and notes CROWS has proven its capability successfully and effectively in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). As such the committee feels CROWS could also prove just as effective for marines operating in Iraq, and recommends providing six systems for test and evaluation by the Marine Corps.

The committee recognizes certain combat support and combat service support (CS/CSS) vehicle platforms cannot support the weight and size of the currently fielded CROWS system.

To address this need, the committee understands the Army has developed a reduced weight and size configuration of CROWS called CROWS Light. The committee supports this effort and believes this system can enhance force protection, survivability, and lethality of CS/CSS units performing critical convoy operations in OIF.

The committee recommends $42.6 million in PE 64601A, an increase of $8.0 million to complete the development, testing, and accelerate fielding of CROWS Light systems and recommends $58.4 million in PE63640M, an increase of $2.0 million for CROWS test and evaluation by the Marine Corps.

Communications and electronics cost module

The budget request contained $12.1 million in PE 63006A for the research and development of Command, Control, Communications Advanced Technology.

The committee believes that the Communications and Electronics Cost Module (CECM) is a critical component to realize the Department of the Army's service-wide planned force restructure and to support appropriate homeland security response issues. The CECM is part of an advanced solution project that accelerates collaborative, near real-time trade-off analysis of prospective system design changes. In addition, the CECM allows decision makers to have affordable analysis, while addressing program managers' concerns throughout the program lifecycle. The CECM simultaneously integrates cost estimation, computer aided design activities, and work breakdown structures in a collaborative, web-enabled, efficient, and secure environment, thus reducing the cycle time in the decision process from the beginning and throughout the acquisition lifecycle.

The committee recommends $14.1 million in PE 63006A for the research and development of Command, Control, Communications Advanced Technology, an increase of $2.0 million for the development of the CECM.

Distributed common ground system

The budget request contained $156.7 million for the research and development of the Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS).

The committee notes that the DCGS program is beginning to address how data is processed from various sources. The committee believes this is a critical element in the data enterprise integration of all DCGS. Without a clear plan that addresses all DCGS capabilities, to include access, exploitation, and dissemination of information and data from other sources, DCGS will not be able to fully maximize its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance processing capabilities. In addition, the committee is concerned that without a unified development structure built on a validated Capability and Maturity Model (CMM) standard that strictly controls DCGS requirements and correlates software with fewer defects, DCGS will continue to be a pretext for the services to buy new hardware.

Given the technical, developmental, and management challenges, the committee believes that DCGS should reevaluate its software development and data management structure to determine if the present organizational configuration will be able to support the transition to DCGS. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense through the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration, and the DCGS council to submit a report by February 15, 2006, to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, the House Committee on Armed Services, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence addressing the standards for all legacy hardware and software implementation into the joint DCGS architecture; how the processes, key practices and common features in software will mature jointly; and how current and planned data will be handled regardless of the source or asset. Additionally, this report must include a fielding plan for all DCGS.

Accordingly, the committee recommends the following for the research and development of the DCGS program: $73.3 million in PE 35208A, a decrease of $18.3 million, and $32.4 million for PE 35208F, a decrease of $8.0 million, $12.3 million in PE 35208N, $1.8 million in PE 35208BQ, $3.7 million in PE 35208G, and $1.0 million in PE 35208L.

Excalibur XM982

The budget request contained $113.4 million in PE 64814A, artillery munitions, but included no funds for Excalibur XM982 life cycle improvements.

The committee recognizes the potential benefits provided through studies of manufacturing technologies and methodologies to help lower production costs without sacrificing stated performance requirements of a weapon system. In fiscal year 2005, Excalibur XM982 lifecycle improvement program efforts were able to reduce the production cost of each projectile by 14.1 percent. The fiscal year 2006 cost reduction efforts would build upon previous work and expand into the potential production cost reduction of the canard actuation system and insensitive munitions design improvements for the base and warhead of the projectile identified in the lean design review. Cost reduction efforts will be expanded to the Excalibur XM982 common guidance capability, which is a system commonality in other weapons development programs.

Therefore, the committee recommends $123.4 million in PE 64814A, an increase of $10.0 million for the Excalibur XM982 lifecycle improvement program.

Explosive and narcotic detection devices

The budget request contained $19.3 million in PE 62712A, countermine systems, but included no funds for continued development of explosive and narcotic detection devices for vehicles and cargo containers proceeding through entry control points at various, worldwide Department of Defense facilities.

The committee notes the significance of improving capabilities of future force protection equipment. There are two detection devices currently under development which have the potential to be used for detecting trace amounts of explosives and narcotics on the inside and outside of vehicles and cargo containers. These devices should be able to complement and enhance current force protection equipment in place, or substitute when needed, for explosive and narcotic detecting canines that are unavailable to perform these duties.

Therefore, the committee recommends $27.3 million in PE 62712A, an increase of $8.0 million for continued development of explosive and narcotic detection devices.

Fire support technology improvement program

The budget request contained $16.1 million in PE 23726A for advanced field artillery tactical data systems, but included no funds for the Fire Support Technology Improvement (FSTI) program.

The FSTI program will examine and exploit emerging technologies that could improve artillery fire support efficiency and performance.

The committee recognizes the need for more rapid precision engagement of artillery targets requires artillery battle management systems that can enable soldiers to rapidly geo-reference and analyze relevant imagery and/or information; determine the status of the possible firing elements; issue fire commands; and effectively conduct battle damage assessments all in real time. The committee is aware this program's purpose is to identify gaps and develop solutions to assimilate multi-source (satellite, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicle) imagery and information, and accomplish rapid geo-referencing and shooting of precision artillery engagements.

The committee recommends $21.0 million in PE 23726A, an increase of $5.0 million for the continuation of the FSTI program.

Flexible display initiative

The budget request contained $39.6 million in PE 62705A for electronics and electronic devices, but included no funding for the flexible display initiative.

The committee is aware that new flexible display technology has the potential to provide the military with technology to fabricate high definition displays on rugged conformable, flexible substrates. The committee notes that the United States Display Consortium coordinates these efforts with over 80 companies, using investments from both the public and private industry to accelerate the development of technologies and products needed by the Army, other military services, and various national security agencies.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $11.4 million in PE 62705A for the flexible display initiative.

Gas-engine driven air conditioning system demonstrations

The budget request contained $7.3 million in PE 63734A for military engineering, but included no funding for unitary gas-engine driven air conditioning (GEDAC) system demonstrations.

The committee is aware that GEDAC use on bases in the southwest has the potential to save significant electric power and reduce water usage. Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $7.0 million in PE 63734A for GEDAC system demonstrations.

Geospatial information decision support-single integrated air picture

The budget request included $150.3 million in PE 63327A, PE 632879N, PE 27434F, PE 27443F, and PE 20631M for the development of the Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP). This program seeks to provide a common aerial view of the battlespace for the warfighter.

The committee supports technologies and capabilities that provide the warfighter with a single integrated air, ground, space, and maritime picture that is the product of fused, common, continual, and accurate data. However, the committee is concerned that SIAP only addresses the air picture, and could become another stove-pipe system that will not interoperate with the ground, space, or maritime pictures. The committee supports the development of one true common operational picture that will provide the warfighter with an unambiguous, real-time picture of the battlespace.

The committee is aware that the Army has requirements to provide a consistent, accurate, and timely understanding of how space assets and capabilities affect the battlespace. Meeting this requirement demands tools that fuse geospatial and operational data for air defense and satellite control. The Geospatial Information Decision Support (GIDS) for SIAP is an intelligent software tool for warfare commanders that receives tactical information from multiple real-time ground, air, and space-based tactical data sources to provide a comprehensive battlespace picture. The committee understands GIDS-SIAP will also be extended to support Army tactical missile defense needs.

The committee believes GIDS-SIAP may build the bridge between SIAP and an integrated common operational picture. However, the committee notes that this is not the final or all-encompassing solution to developing a true common operational picture.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by March 15, 2006, on a formal acquisition strategy to clearly define the development and service-level implementation of SIAP, and a coordinated investment strategy for developing all common tactical pictures such as the air, ground, maritime, and space views.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $157.3 million for the research and development of SIAP, an increase of $7.0 million in PE 63327A, for the evaluation of software and field demonstration of GIDS-SIAP.

Handheld detection systems

The budget request contained $74.9 million in PE 63004A for weapons and munitions advanced technology but contained no funding for the miniaturized spectrometer identification system.

The committee is concerned with the well-being of uniformed personnel due to the pending threat of chemical weapons. The committee supports efforts to develop handheld sensing equipment to improve timely detection of evolving and existing threats.

Therefore, the committee recommends $77.9 million in PE 63004A, an increase of $3.0 million to develop the miniaturized spectrometer identification system.

Human systems integration

The budget request contained $17.5 million in PE 62716A for human factors engineering applied research, $68.5 million in PE 63236N for warfighter sustainment advanced technology development, and $79.4 million in PE 62202F for applied research in human effectiveness.

The committee recognizes human systems integration initiatives provide a means for reducing total lifecycle costs of weapons programs, and strongly supports efforts to consider human systems integration issues early in the acquisition cycle. The committee believes that further institutionalization and standardization of human systems integration methodologies and modeling tools are needed. The committee also remains concerned about the level of support and coordination of these initiatives within each of the military departments and throughout the Department of Defense (DOD). The committee urges the Department to complete a comprehensive review and critical assessment of human systems integration based upon the perspectives of the acquisition, personnel, and operations and management communities. The committee expects that such a review would include a review of acquisition programs that utilize such initiatives, and an assessment of the relative level of support within each military department.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $5.5 million in PE 62716A for the development of manpower and personnel integration tools for modeling and predicting soldier and system performance; an increase of $6.0 million in PE 63236N to develop cognitive and physiological research data under the Navy's system engineering, acquisition and personnel integration program; and an increase of $3.5 million in PE 62202F for the development of new training algorithms for the human performance integration tool program. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of human systems integration programs within the Department and to submit a report of the results to the congressional defense committees by December 31, 2005. Further, committee recommends that a panel of experts at the National Defense University collaborate, consult and independently review the DOD's assessment and submit a report of the results to the congressional defense committees within six months of initiation.

Hydrogen proton exchange membrane

The budget request contained $64.9 million in PE 62601A for combat vehicle and automotive technology, but included no funding for the hydrogen proton exchange membrane (PEM) ambient pressure fuel cell medium/heavy duty vehicle demonstration program.

The committee is aware that the hydrogen PEM fuel cell is to demonstrate zero emission, ambient pressure, highly efficient hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles in various operating situations and conditions. The committee notes that this development supports the government's objective of tripling fuel economy while reducing harmful emissions.

The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 62601A for the hydrogen proton exchange membrane (PEM) ambient pressure fuel cell medium/heavy duty vehicle demonstration program.

Hyperspectral longwave imager for the tactical environment

The budget request contained $51.8 million in PE 63710A for night vision but included no funding for hyperspectral longwave imager for the tactical environment (HyLITE).

The committee is aware that recent operations have both demonstrated the need for a day/night hyperspectral day/night sensor and provided a basis for improvements to the prototype HyLITE.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $9.2 million in PE 63710A for HyLITE.

Integrated digital environment service model

The budget request contained $42.5 million in PE 63772A for the development of Advanced Tactical Computer Science and Sensor Technology.

The committee notes that the Department of Defense has a myriad of individual systems that have been designed, produced, and fielded to respond to specific threats, mission requirements, and information needs. The committee notes there is no single method or system to track and evaluate the interoperability characteristics of these systems, or to ensure system-of- systems configuration will work together in the battlespace.

The command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance Integrated Digital Environment Service Model (C4ISR-IDESM) seeks to provide the information technology infrastructure, applications, and support services necessary to configure and manage enterprise data. The C4ISR-IDESM uses the internet on a subscription basis as needed to conduct C4ISR interoperability analysis.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $47.5 million in PE 63772A, an increase of $5.0 million for research and development of C4ISR-IDESM.

Joint Common Missile

The budget request included no funds for the Joint Common Missile (JCM) program.

The committee notes that the budget request for fiscal year 2005 projected a requirement of $271.3 million for fiscal year 2006. The committee also understands the JCM was one of the first weapon systems to be validated by the joint requirements process instituted by the Secretary of Defense and the first program approved by the Department of Defense Joint Requirements Oversight Committee through the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process. Further, the committee notes that the JCM is currently the only air-to-ground missile with the potential to fulfill the six critical capability gaps identified in the JCIDS analysis, such as targeting time sensitive moving targets, mitigation of collateral damage, and targeting diverse target sets. Thus far, the Department of the Army and Department of the Navy have invested $406.4 million in research and development for the JCM.

Therefore, the committee strongly encourages the Secretary of Defense to reevaluate the cancellation of the Joint Common Missile program. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the Congressional defense committees by December 31, 2005, that contains a Joint Requirements Oversight Council memorandum explaining how the Department of Defense will mitigate the capability gaps identified in the JCIDS analysis; a current and forecasted inventory of all air to ground missiles remaining in war reserve stockpiles; an explanation of compliance strategy and associated costs for the Department to comply with the insensitive munitions requirements of current air to ground missiles; and lastly, provide a cost comparison analysis of continuing the Joint Common Missile program versus JCM termination and continued procurement of legacy air to ground missiles to fulfill mission requirements.

JP-8 soldier fuel cell

The budget request contained $39.6 million in PE 62705A for electronics and electronic devices, but included no funding for JP-8 soldier fuel cell.

The committee is aware that light, compact, high-capacity power sources to power a variety of devices are essential to success on the modern battlefield. The committee notes that an effort is on-going to modify a commercial fuel cell to run on standard, readily available JP-8 fuel.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 62705A for development of the JP-8 soldier fuel cell.

Lean munitions

The budget request contained $68.5 million in PE 78045A for manufacturing science and technology, but included no funds for the third phase of the Lean Munitions project.

The committee notes that the Army Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Command (ARDEC) is responsible for 90 percent of the munitions produced and utilized by the U.S. Army. The committee further notes that the Army's increased operational tempo and transformation plans support the need to reduce the time and cost for development and production of munitions used by our armed forces. The committee believes that the use of a standards-based, model-driven design and manufacturing lifecycle support environment would enable faster and lower cost production and sustainment of current and future munitions systems.

The committee understands that the third phase of the Lean Munitions project will focus on enterprise-wide integration and utilization of three-dimensional, model-based, standardized product data. Further, the Lean Munitions project will be expanded from a pilot demonstration to a full-scale production of machined parts, integration ARDEC's design and manufacturing lifecycle support environment, and implementation of the Lean business process into the supply chain.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.5 million in PE 78045A to continue the Lean Munitions project.

Leishmaniasis diagnostics

The budget request contained $10.1 million in PE 63807A for medical systems advanced development.

The committee notes that over 700 U.S. troops have been diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been infected with visceral leishmaniasis, a more serious form of the disease that can cause organ damage and death. In addition, all blood donations from military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan were stopped because of the potential transmission of the parasite from infected donors to non-infected recipients.

The committee believes that it is important to have a safe and effective method of early diagnosis. The Army has had under development a diagnostic skin test for leishmaniasis that is designed to be inexpensive, easy use and ideally suited for routine use in areas where limited medical services are available. This test is an important component of the overall Department of Defense program to develop effective Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved diagnostic and treatment products for leishmaniasis. The diagnostic test is in advanced development and has been successfully tested in humans in Phase I safety trials. The committee notes, however, that the program has not been included in the budget request because of funding limitations.

The committee recommends an increase of $1.5 million in PE 63807A to continue development of the leishmaniasis skin test.

Light utility vehicle

The budget request contained $64.8 million in PE 62601A for combat vehicle and automotive technology, but included no funding for the light utility vehicle.

The committee is aware the Army requires a low-cost, light utility vehicle (LUV) that would provide soldiers with enhanced mobility, lethality and survivability compared to the current high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle and understands that the design and development of a LUV demonstrator could be accelerated due to previous research in LUV technology by the National Automotive Center.

Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE 62601A to continue the design, development, and delivery of a LUV demonstrator.

Lightweight patient monitor with defibrillator

The budget request contained $45.2 million in PE 63002A for medical advanced technology development.

The committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE 3002A to continue development of advanced capabilities in a compact, lightweight, full-featured patient monitor with defibrillator that will enable military caregivers to provide intensive care monitoring and treatment in locations and situations that would be otherwise inhibited by the size and weight of the current technology in the field.

M5 high performance fiber for personnel armor systems

The budget request contained $21.7 million in PE 62786A for warfighter technology, but included no funding for M5 high performance fiber.

The committee notes that M5 fiber, based on independent evaluation, offers the possibility of a new generation of lighter and more effective body and vehicle armor as well as similar improvement in heat resistant clothing.

The committee recognizes the urgency to provide improved personnel protection and recommends $26.7 million in PE 62786A, an increase of $5.0 million to hasten development, evaluation and small-scale field testing of M5 fiber based armor and other applications.

Mast mounted common remote stabilized sensor system

The budget request contained $26.7 million in PE 63653A for advanced tank armament systems to support the development of the Family of Stryker vehicles, but included no funds to complete the development of the Mast Mounted Common Remote Stabilized Sensor System (CRS3).

The Stryker Brigade Combat Team mission requirement states the need for a high performance mast mounted CRS3 on the Stryker Reconnaissance Vehicle and the Stryker Fire Support Vehicle. The committee is aware $2.1 million was appropriated in the National Defense Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 107-248) for a mast mounted CRS3 technology demonstrator. The committee understands the next phase of development is a fully qualified and tested mast mounted CRS3 and notes additional funding would accelerate development of the mast mounted CRS3 by two years.

The committee understands a mast mounted CRS3, when fielded, increases soldier survivability, allows soldier to operate the sensor package inside the armored vehicle without degrading sensor performance, and allows soldiers to target from a defilade position.

Therefore, the committee recommends $41.7 million in PE 63653A, an increase of $15.0 million for accelerated mast mounted CRS3 development for the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.

Medium tactical vehicle steering and suspension development

The budget request contained $1.9 million in PE 64604A for the continued development of medium tactical truck technologies and enhancements.

The committee is aware the United States Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command initiated an advanced steering and suspension modification program in fiscal year 2004 for its medium truck fleet. The committee supports the continued modernization of the Army's medium truck fleet through advancements in suspension and steering and further notes these modifications can provide improved mission mobility, increased vehicle maneuverability in confined areas, and allow for greater vehicle control over extreme terrains such as those found in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 64604A to continue the development, simulation, testing, and validation of the advanced medium truck steering and suspension program.

Miniature sensor development for small and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles

The budget request contained $23.8 million in PE 62709A for night vision technology, but included no funding for miniaturized hyperspectral and coherent imaging sensors for small and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

The committee notes the urgent need for better sensors for small and tactical UAVs and recommends $29.8 million in PE 62709A, an increase of $6.0 million for miniaturized hyperspectral and coherent imaging sensors for small and tactical UAVs.

Missile recycling center capability

The budget request contained $9.9 million in PE 63103A for explosive demilitarization technology, but contained no funds for the Missile Recycling Center capability at Letterkenny Munitions Center (LEMC).

The committee notes that Congress appropriated funding for the tactical missile reuse and demilitarization capability at LEMC in fiscal year 2004. Fiscal year 2006 funding would furnish the LEMC with the capability to reduce the usage of open burn and detonation techniques procedures, as directed by Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition (Executive Order 13101), for disposing of tactical missiles. The additional funding will add a new module for processing warheads from the multiple launch rocket system and will support demilitarization of larger tactical missiles received from other U.S. military services.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million for Missile Recycling Center capability at LEMC.

Modeling and analysis of the response of structures

The budget request contained $82.0 million in PE 61104A for university and industry research centers, but included no funding for modeling and analysis of the response of structures (MARS).

The committee notes that MARS computer simulations will provide accurate vulnerability assessments that can be used to improve warfighter protection, enhance survivability, and facilitate rapid repair of structures.

The committee recommends $83.0 million in PE 61104A, an increase of $1.0 million for MARS.

Night vision advanced technology

The budget request contained $51.8 million in PE 63710A for night vision advanced technology initiatives, of which $0.5 million was included for the Soldier Mobility and Rifle Targeting System (SMaRTS) demonstration program.

The committee recognizes SMaRTS technology provides soldiers with an improved lightweight, low power, helmet mounted thermal and visible sensor, with a helmet mounted display and thermal weapon sight. SMaRTS significantly improves the warfighter's fight-on-the-move capability while conducting mobile military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) in many different environmental conditions where night vision goggles alone fail to provide the complete solution as required by the warfighter. The committee expects SMaRTS technology to be a critical combat enabler and expects it to improve soldier survivability in MOUT operations in all environments.

The committee recommends $55.8 million in PE 63710A, an increase of $4.0 million to continue system component definition, modeling, and design of the SMaRTS demonstration program.

Night vision enhanced vision goggle

The budget request contained $51.8 million in PE 63710A for night vision advanced technology, but included no funds to accelerate development of night vision fusion technology.

The committee recognizes that night vision capability has provided our armed forces a significant advantage over their adversaries. The committee notes that while older technology has become available to others, state-of-the-art in night vision, pixel level digital fusion of light intensification and infrared images offers a very significant advantage over previous night vision devices. The committee understands that this technology will provide vital survivability and operational enhancements.

The committee recommends an increase of $12.2 million in PE 63710A to accelerate development and fielding of enhanced night vision pixel level, digital fusion of light intensification and infrared image technology.

Night vision system air dispensing capability

The budget request contained $51.8 million in PE 63710A for night vision systems, but included no funding for unattended ground sensor air deployment from air foils or unmanned aerial vehicles.

The committee believes that in the future it will be highly advantageous to dispense unattended ground sensors from unmanned aerial vehicles.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in PE 63710A for development and testing of unmanned aerial sensor dispensing.

Non-emitting helicopter brownout situational awareness demonstration

The budget request included $23.5 million in PE 64201A for aircraft avionics, but included no funds for a non-emitting helicopter brownout situational awareness demonstration. The committee is aware that helicopter accidents continue to occur due to brownout conditions and operations over water. While a variety of technologies exist to solve this problem, the committee is concerned that the Department of Defense has not yet demonstrated an effective and affordable solution using non-emitting technologies. The committee believes that affordable and relatively mature technologies exist to demonstrate this capability.

Therefore, the committee has included an increase of $3.0 million in PE 64201A for a non-emitting helicopter brownout situational awareness demonstration. The committee directs that these funds be used for a competitive evaluation using a helicopter platform. If the evaluation is successful in demonstrating improved capabilities and affordable technologies, the committee encourages the insertion of this capability into existing programs to improve flight handling qualities in degraded visual environments.

Patient status monitor

The budget request contained $45.2 million in PE 63002A for medical advanced technology development.

The committee notes advances in patient status monitoring technology that provide on-body sensing of physiological conditions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature via a series of wireless relays for patient monitoring and detection of a critical or life threatening event. Potential applications of the technology include the monitoring of a deployed individual or groups of individuals who might be subject to catastrophic physiological events, such as military and public safety personnel, and those with acute cardiovascular disease.

The committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE 63002A to accelerate the development and evaluation of wireless-remote patient status monitoring technology.

Portable and mobile emergency broadband system

The budget request contained $45.3 million in PE 63008A for electronic warfare advanced technology, but included no funding for the portable and mobile emergency broadband system.

The committee notes that the portable and mobile emergency broadband system, based on emerging commercial technology, will allow rapid establishment of emergency communications networks.

The committee recommends an increase of $6.1 million in PE 63008A to complete critical development of the portable and mobile emergency broadband system.

Powdered metal compaction

The budget request contained $68.5 million in PE 78045A for manufacturing science and technology.

The committee notes the production of high quality, low cost net and near-net shaped parts for a variety of defense products uses traditional compacted metal powder processes in a 75 year-old process that is costly and complex. In many cases the resulting density and tensile strength of the finished parts are not sufficient to allow them to be used in many aerospace, ground vehicle, and weapons system applications.

The committee notes that the combustion driven compaction (CDC) process in which an electrically-ignited, combustible gas mixture is used to drive the press overcomes many of the problems of the current compacted powder technology. The CDC process technology is simple and controllable, capable of providing compacted metal parts that are useable in defense applications, and appears to have the potential for creating a major step forward in defense manufacturing technology in terms of performance and affordability.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 78045A for a powdered metal compaction initiative to continue the development and implementation of combustion driven compaction technology for defense applications.

Pseudofollicullitus Barbae

The budget request contained $10.1 million in PE 63807A for medical systems advanced development, but included no funding for the development of a treatment for pseudofollicullitus barbae.

The committee recognizes the importance of the development of a treatment for pseudofollicullitus barbae, particularly as it affects military personnel deployability rates.

The committee recommends an increase of $1.0 million in PE 63807A for pseudofollicullitus barbae research.

Rugged textile electronic garments

The budget request contained $45.2 million in PE 63002A for medical advanced technology development, but included no funds for continuation of the development of rugged textile electronic garments for combat casualty care.

The committee continues to note advances in sensor technology, textile electronics, information management, and medical science have increased the potential for remote diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of a range of medical conditions. Positive results from combat casualty care and electronic textiles research suggest that major improvements can be made in the survival of wounded soldiers through the use of these technologies in an integrated system. Congress has supported the development and assessment of the application of advanced textile electronic garments to combat casualty care. The committee notes that the plan for the third year of the program emphasizes the integration of advanced sensor technologies into apparel that will provide a `wear and forget' physiological status monitoring capability.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.2 million in PE 63002A to complete the final year of the rugged textile electronic garment program.

Smart responsive nano-composites

The budget request contained $67.2 million in PE 61103A for University Research Initiatives, but included no funding for smart responsive nano-composites.

The committee is aware that there is a multitude of design possibilities for nano-structured, nature-simulating materials capable of responding to outside stimuli.

The committee recommends $69.2 million in PE 61103A, an increase of $2.0 million to develop a smart responsive nano-structured material, which combines detection of toxins and alarm-release with self-cleaning and self-repairing material.

Strategic materials and strategic manufacturing initiative

The budget request contained $37.8 million in PE 62624A for weapons and munitions technology, but included no funding for the strategic materials strategic manufacturing initiative (SM2i).

The committee notes that titanium is important for weight reduction of weapons systems. The committee is aware that SM2i will link the Army's efforts to establish a reliable low-cost domestic source of titanium with advanced domestic manufacturing capabilities. The committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE 62624A for SM2i.

Tactical wheeled vehicle product improvement program

The Army is preparing to make a significant capital investment in its tactical wheeled vehicle (TWV) fleet as a direct result of modularity and extreme usage rates from ongoing operations in the global war on terrorism. The Army requires the flexibility to rapidly evaluate and integrate readily available technology into TWV platforms as part of its recapitalization and modernization effort for TWVs. The committee expects these technologies to have a real-time impact and effect on existing TWVs by providing increased capability in the areas of performance. The committee report (H. Rept. 108-491) accompanying the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) requires all Department of Defense manned ground systems must be assessed for adequacy in survivability and suitability against asymmetrical, unconventional threats. As such, the committee expects at the minimum, the incorporation of lessons learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom as a specific component of the TWV Product Improvement Program (PIP).

The Army's TWV recapitalization and modernization strategy will require proof-of-concept modifications and commercial-off-the-shelf proven capabilities in the key performance areas of force protection, survivability, reliability, distribution and mission enhancements and safety. The committee realizes the degree of complexity of integrating new technologies and commercial modifications into specific TWV platforms. The committee is also aware this process of `spiraling' technologies into current TWV platforms marks the first time that this has occurred as the historical trend has been to categorize the TWV fleet as a non-developmental item. The committee disagrees with this historical non-developmental item categorization of the TWV fleet and commends the Army and the Program Executive Officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support for devising a modernization and recapitalization strategy for the TWV fleet that includes readily available technology platform insertions. The committee supports the Army's effort and the committee believes a TWV PIP can augment and accelerate the spiraling of these needed, readily available technologies into specific TWV platforms.

Therefore, the committee recommends $50.0 million in fiscal year 2006 for the TWV PIP. The committee expects this additional funding will be prioritized and distributed

accordingly across the families of light, medium and heavy tactical wheeled vehicles and to also include the family of tactical trailers. Given the noted complexity of the TWV recapitalization and modernization strategy, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by February 1, 2006, describing in detail the Army's plan for integrating these product improvement modifications into the current TWV fleet. The committee expects the report to provide specific cost estimates and specific platform modifications.

Titanium extraction, mining, and process engineering research

The budget request contained $44.7 million in PE 62624A for weapons and munitions technology, but included no funding for titanium extraction, mining, and process engineering research (TEMPER).

The committee is aware that the TEMPER initiative is intended to enhance U.S. industrial capability for the efficient production of inexpensive titanium for military systems. The committee notes that titanium offers weight and performance advantages and that the process must be developed to produce titanium at a reasonable cost in order to realize those advantages in future military systems.

The committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE 62624A for TEMPER.

Transparent armor

The budget request contained $48.3 million in PE 63003A for aviation advanced technology, but contained no funding for advanced lightweight armored window technology.

The committee recognizes the unique threat confronting air crews operating rotary aircraft in forward deployed areas. The committee is supportive of efforts to rapidly field advanced technologies to enhance the protection of military personnel. The committee understands that significant opportunities exist to facilitate the transition of technologies from research and development to testing and fielding, particularly in the area of self-protection. The effort to develop transparent, lightweight armor is one such opportunity, as it offers the promise of improving rotary aircraft survivability.

The committee therefore, recommends an increase of $1.5 million in PE 63003A for lightweight armored window technology.

UH-60 maintenance improvement program

The budget request contained $409.1 million in PE 23744A, aircraft modifications/product improvement programs, but included no funds for a maintenance improvement program for the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The committee notes the benefits of streamlining maintenance practices in order to reduce aircraft downtime for scheduled maintenance and to expedite return of the weapon system to the warfighter. The Nomad Expert Technician System (NETS), along with commercially developed software, combines to form the Nomad Aircraft Maintenance Improvement Program (NAMIP). The NETS is a maintenance productivity tool composed of a wireless, integrated, belt-mounted control module and a heads-up display mounted on a standard type baseball cap. This display allows maintenance personnel to view technical data and procedures concerning maintenance tasks without leaving their point of task. Secondly, commercially available software can adapt existing UH-60 maintenance data to integrate with the NETS displays. As a result, the NAMIP has the potential to significantly increase output productivity and reduce aircraft downtime for UH-60 maintenance facilities Army wide.

Therefore, the committee recommends $413.0 million in PE 23744A, an increase of $3.9 million for test and evaluation of the UH-60 NAMIP at Corpus Christi Army Depot and the Army National Guard Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot.

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NAVY AND MARINE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION.

NAVY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

OVERVIEW

The budget request contained $18.0 billion for Navy research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E).

The committee recommends $18.0 billion, a decrease of $15.9 million from the budget request.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Advanced mine detection program

The budget request contained $56.4 million in PE 63640M for the Marine Corps advanced technology demonstration, but included no funding for the advanced mine detection program.

The committee is aware that the Marine Corps urgently needs a backpack advanced mine detection capability with minimal false alarm rates. The committee notes that the Office of Naval Research has been working to develop an advanced mine detection system based on quadrupole resonance technology that has the potential to meet Marine Corps requirements.

The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 63640M to complete development of a quadrupole resonance technology advanced backpack mine detection system.

Affordable towed array construction

The budget request contained $95.5 million in PE 64503N for submarine system equipment development, including $4.5 million to continue the development of affordable towed array technology.

The affordable towed array construction program employs fiber optic thinline arrays to provide reliability improvements by reducing system complexity, eliminating wet end electronics, enhancing littoral capability and incorporating robust array construction methods. The committee believes that accelerating the development and fielding of fiber optic towed array technology using improved construction methods and process would provide increased performance, reliability and operational capabilities at reduced costs and earlier introduction into the fleet.

Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in PE 64503N to accelerate the development and introduction into the fleet of fiber optic thinline arrays.

Affordable weapon system

The budget request contained $14.2 million in PE 63795N for land attack technology advanced component development and prototypes.

The affordable weapons system (AWS) program began as an Office of Naval Research (ONR) advanced technology initiative to demonstrate the ability to design, develop, and build a capable and affordable precision guided weapon system at a cost that would be an order of magnitude cheaper than comparable weapons systems and in production would achieve a stable unit production cost very early in the production cycle.

The committee notes that the ONR program has been successful in all respects. In less than four years, the AWS program demonstrated the use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components to construct a 400-600 mile range, subsonic (180-220 knot), `loitering, 200 pound payload, precision strike missile with global position system/inertial navigation system guidance and control and a data link.' The missile has both line-of-sight and satellite data links for interaction with ground stations and forward observers and is reprogrammable in flight. In operational use the missile would be launched from CONEX-type containers that hold between 6 and 20 missiles and could be carried on land, sea, or air platforms. The initiative has demonstrated that the COTS approach can reduce costs by an order of magnitude from traditional cruise missiles. The current missile cost in large scale production, exclusive of warhead, is estimated to be approximately $65,000.

Based on the results of the AWS advanced technology demonstration, the Department of Defense and the Navy transitioned the AWS from the technology base to an accelerated advanced component development and prototype program to demonstrate the ability to produce the missile at the projected cost, produce up to 100 missiles and launch and fire control equipment for developmental and operational testing, and support user evaluation of the AWS for potential use by the fleet. The Navy is also assessing the operational requirement and concepts of operation for the system and those other activities that would be necessary to establish AWS as a program of record. The current schedule includes completion of an operational evaluation of the system during the third quarter of fiscal year 2006.

The committee recommends an increase of $60.0 million in PE 63795N to continue the development of the AWS, support developmental and operational testing and fleet evaluation of the system. Of the amount provided, up to $30.0 million may be used to continue low rate initial production of the system. The committee directs that funds to continue low rate initial production of the system will not become available for obligation until successful completion of the AWS operational evaluation.

Air combat environment test and evaluation

The budget request contained $51.2 million in PE 64231N for major test and evaluation investment.

The committee notes that in order to meet increasingly complex asymmetric threats, U.S. armed forces are transforming from a strategy based on threats to a strategy based on capabilities, and that this transformation requires sophisticated modeling, simulation, and analysis at research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) and training range facilities operated by the military departments. The Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility (ACETEF) is a ground test facility whose primary purpose is to test installed aircraft systems in an integrated multi-spectral warfare environment using state-of-the-art simulation and simulation technology. The facility supports the systems development process from early mission needs and requirements development through operational testing and training. The robust and flexible modeling and simulation architecture has made possible other RDT&E and related capabilities, such as distributed or co-located battlegroup mission rehearsal for naval and joint forces.

The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 64231N to accelerate improvements in high-fidelity simulation capabilities at the ACETEF.

Airborne reconnaissance systems

The budget request contained $27.9 million in PE 35206N for airborne reconnaissance systems, but included no funding for passive collision avoidance and reconnaissance (PCAR).

The committee is aware that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) must fly in regions that make them a potential hazard to commercial and other manned aircraft. The committee notes that PCAR will sense an impending collision and allow the UAV to safely avoid approaching aircraft.

Therefore, to improve safety of UAV operations, the committee recommends $32.9 million in PE 35206N, an increase of $5.0 million for PCAR.

Aircraft carrier launch and recovery and support equipment modernization

The budget request contained $33.0 million in PE 64512N for shipboard aviation systems development, but included no funds for development of the aircraft carrier launch and recovery (ALRE) and support equipment (SE) modernization program.

The ALRE/SE modernization program would develop modernization strategies for existing ALRE/SE systems to reduce the human error and operating costs while improving safety and reliability. The committee understands that state-of-the-art ALRE/SE technologies and design tools are being developed for the Department of the Navy's CVN-21 future carrier, and believes that application of these technologies to the Navy's existing aircraft carrier fleet could substantially reduce operating costs for the remainder of their useful life.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $39.5 million in PE 64512N, an increase of $6.5 million, for ALRE/SE modernization program. The committee expects that $2.0 million would be for ALRE systems modernization; $2.5 million would be for development of prognostic, health monitoring, and condition-based maintenance systems; and $2.0 million would be for upgrading ALRE/SE technical data packages.

Amorphous metal permanent magnet generator set

The budget request contained $22.2 million in PE 63513N for shipboard systems advanced component development and prototypes.

The committee understands that generator sets employing amorphous metal permanent magnets have the potential to greatly increase power output, while reducing the size and weight of the generator set. Such generator technology also holds the potential for reducing lifecycle costs by increasing fuel efficiency and reducing logistics supports costs. Congress provided $1.5 million in fiscal year 2005 for development of an amorphous metal permanent generator.

The committee recommends an increase of $1.5 million in PE 63513N to continue the development and demonstration of an amorphous metal permanent magnet generator set for potential use on U.S. Navy combatants and other ships.

Aviation ship integration center

The budget request contained $167.8 million in PE 63512N for carrier systems advanced technology development and prototyping, but included no funds for the Aviation Ship Integration Center.

The Aviation Ship Integration Center supports the development and conceptualization of fully integrated advanced technology designs for future aircraft carriers. The center identifies, tests, and integrates transformational design changes and products for aviation capable ships and component systems, and permits the identification and resolution of potential problems early in the development cycle, thereby reducing overall engineering costs and facilitating the introduction of transformational initiatives in the CVN-21 carrier.

The committee notes that additional funding is required to expand and complete several key initiatives by the shipbuilder and appropriate government sponsors:

(1) Identification of and experimentation with design changes that can reduce cost or improve net centric warfare capabilities;

(2) Integrate and test communications, command, control, computers, and intelligence components to ensure joint interoperability;

(3) Design flexible, modular compartments for decision centers aboard ships.

(4) In coordination with the Navy's systems commands, develop and implement leading edge modeling and simulation capabilities that allow warfighters and engineers to collaborate effectively on aircraft carrier design issues; and

(5) Implement a technical framework for facilities, networks, and simulations that will be compatible with evolving Department of Defense initiatives such as the joint distributed engineering plant and joint national training capabilities.

The committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE 63512N for the Aviation Ship Integration Center.

Biomedical research imaging

The budget request contained $7.2 million in PE 64771N for medical development and demonstration, but included no funds for biomedical research imaging.

The committee continues to note the progress being made in the use of advanced imaging technology in biomedical research. The committee believes that these findings have important implications for advances in real-time medical diagnosis and treatment for the armed forces and for the application of advanced data fusion technologies in other areas.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE 64771N to continue development of the applications of advanced imaging technology in biomedical research.

Ceramic air deployed sensor

The budget request contained $6.3 million in PE 63216N for aviation survivability, but included no funding for ceramic air-deployed sensor.

The committee recognizes the need to develop low-cost air deployable sensors and understands that ceramic composites may offer potential to reduce sensor costs.

Therefore, the committee recommends $8.8 million in PE 63216N, an increase of $2.5 million for ceramic air deployed sensor.

CH-53X heavy lift replacement

The budget request included $272.0 million in PE 65212N and $2.5 million in PE 64212N for the CH-53X heavy lift replacement (HLR) program. The budget request also included $6.0 million in PE 63003A for the Joint Heavy Lift (JHL) program.

As noted elsewhere in this report (sec. 219), the JHL program as currently structured and funded is a joint program in name only. The committee believes that Navy and Marine Corps future missions and required capabilities are not that different and the Secretary of Defense must ensure the JHL program is structured to meet the needs of the Army and Marine Corps.

Therefore, the committee recommends no funding in PE 65212N for HLR, a reduction of $272.0 million; $12.5 million in PE 64212N, an increase of $10.0 million for JHL; and $16.0 million in PE 63003A, an increase of $10.0 million for JHL.

Common submarine radio room

The budget request contained $95.5 million in PE 64503N for submarine system equipment development and $44.1 million in PE 11224N for the SSBN security technology program.

The committee notes that the radio room on many of today's ships uses outdated, and in some cases, obsolete technologies. As a result, the systems that support ship communications in the radio room are labor intensive, require heavy and costly maintenance, suffer from operator overload and require large numbers of highly skilled operators. The Navy developed the Common Submarine Radio Room (CSRR) in the Virginia Class submarine program and plans to standardize radio rooms across all submarine classes using the CSRR model. CSRR will reduce the cost, training, and maintenance in submarine radio rooms; and, through increased use of automation, will permit the reduction of personnel required to stand watch in the radio room. In the future, the CSRR concept may be extended to the surface fleet.

The committee recommends an increase of $9.5 million in PE 64503N and an increase of $2.7 million in PE 11224N for the Navy's unfunded requirement for the CSRR.

Consolidated undersea situational awareness

The budget request contained $60.6 million in PE 63235N for common picture advanced technology development, but included no funds to continue development of the consolidated undersea situational awareness system (CUSAS).

The committee notes that CUSAS is a decision-support system would provide knowledge superiority to undersea warfare (USW) forces through the use of advanced, interactive, decision support software. Developed initially under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, CUSAS offers significant improvements in situational awareness for fleet operators through the use of high fidelity, two- and three-dimensional presentations, augmented with real-time, intelligent agent-based, tactical recommendations.

The committee notes the progress in the development of CUSAS. Over the past year, CUSAS tactical interfaces with existing submarine combat systems, and a preliminary collision avoidance capability have been developed and evaluated. The system has demonstrated the capability to interface with, process, and display all sources of sensor and intelligence data onboard a U.S. submarine. The committee believes that successful development of the CUSAS decision support system will provide a capability that would significantly assist submarine commanders to make rapid and informed decisions in critical combat operations.

The committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in PE 63235N to continue development of CUSAS.

Cooperative engagement capability

The conference report (H. Rept. 105-736) accompanying the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261) directed the Secretary of the Navy to report to the congressional defense committees, at least quarterly, on cooperative engagement capability and combat direction system interoperability problems and planned solutions.

The committee notes that the Navy has complied with this direction and has described a broad scope of actions taken to improve interoperability between the cooperative engagement capability and surface ship combat direction systems. The Navy's reports reflect substantial success in addressing the issues that were of concern to the conferees in 1998, and moreover, the establishment of long-range organizational procedures and a system of reliable evaluations and reviews to ensure the readiness of deploying strike groups. Accordingly, the committee agrees to terminate the quarterly reporting requirement effective October 1, 2005.

Digital shipboard voice communications

The committee applauds the Navy's efforts to explore the transition of all shipboard communications to a digital format. The committee understands that the use of this technology will save significant space and weight aboard the Navy's combat vessels by converging voice, video, and data traffic into a common network infrastructure. Even so, the committee recognizes that before the Navy selects all digital and Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communications systems as the fleet standard, issues in quality of service and bandwidth consumption must be addressed. The committee also understands that the Department of Defense and the Navy are reluctant to move to VoIP before a universally recognized commercial standard technical solution is adopted. While the committee understands this reluctance, the committee believes that the lack of a commercial standard should not impede the adoption of promising VoIP systems, if the overall benefit of digital shipboard communications is demonstrated. To that end, the committee urges the Secretary of Defense to explore options to partner with U.S. industry to develop a universally recognized VoIP technical standard.

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier

The budget request contained $7.2 million in PE 64771N for medical system development and demonstration, but included no funds specifically to continue the development of hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier technology.

The committee notes that there is currently no effective method of providing front-line resuscitative treatment (i.e. immediate oxygen-carrying support) for acute blood loss to wounded soldiers on the battlefield and civilian trauma victims in an out-of-hospital setting. The single major cause of death in potentially salvageable battlefield casualties is hemorrhage and blood loss, and early intervention to treat hemorrhage provides the greatest opportunity for reducing mortality and morbidity. Although blood transfusion is not practical in far forward or out-of-hospital settings, hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers have the characteristics of stability at room temperature that overcome many of the medical and logistical problems associated with red blood cell transfusion.

In fiscal year 2002 Congress initiated a program for evaluation of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers for the treatment of trauma casualties. Based on the progress in the program the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center is directing a clinical development and trials program to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a particular hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier. The program is designed to serve as the basis for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and subsequent licensing of the product for military and civilian trauma applications.

The committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE 64771N to continue the program for development and clinical trials of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers for treatment of trauma casualties.

High temperature superconducting AC synchronous ship propulsion motor

The budget request contained $71.5 million in PE 63123N for force protection advanced technology development, including $23.8 million for development of surface ship and submarine hull, mechanical and electrical advanced technology and to continue development of a 36.5 megawatt class, high temperature superconducting alternating current (AC) synchronous motor.

The committee notes that development of component technologies for the all electric warship is one of the major goals of the Navy's science and technology program. To this end the Navy has pursued the development of several different technologies for ship main propulsion electric motors, including permanent magnet motors, high temperature superconducting AC synchronous motor technology, and low temperature superconducting direct current homopolar motor technology. The committee notes that permanent magnet motor technology is more mature and represents a potential near-term candidate for a ship main propulsion motor. However, the committee also notes that superconducting motor technology presents a number of advantages with respect to size and power density that, if realized, would make that technology potentially advantageous for certain applications.

In fiscal year 2003, the Navy awarded a contract for development and demonstration of high temperature, superconducting AC synchronous motor technology in a 36.5 megawatt propulsion motor and drive system that would be designed to be compatible with Navy electric warship concepts and performance requirements, and would be available to begin Navy evaluation in fiscal year 2006.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 63123N to continue development and demonstration of the high temperature superconducting AC synchronous motor.

Joint integrated systems technology

The budget request contained $542.0 million in PE 33109N for satellite communications (SATCOM). The Joint integrated satellite communications (JIST-NET) is a web-based SATCOM planning and management technology that utilizes the Department of Defense's existing internet protocol router to expand the flexibility and efficiency of military SATCOM across a broad spectrum of radio frequencies. The committee believes that developmental systems like JIST-NET, based on common standards are critical to increased SATCOM efficiency and maximizing the utilization of available spectrum resources across legacy and follow-on SATCOM.

The committee recommends $551.2 million in PE 33109N, an increase of $9.2 million to continue the JIST-NET program for development of a uniform web-based architecture for SATCOM mission planning and resource allocation.

Marine expeditionary rifle squad

The budget request contained $0.5 million in PE 63635M for Marine Corps ground combat support systems but included no funds for the development of the Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) program.

The MERS program focuses on the holistic, system level integration of all items worn, consumed or carried by the marine infantry rifle squad. The program's near-term efforts address integration issues resulting from the rapid fielding of urgently needed weapons and equipment to infantry squads currently operating in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the program's long term objective strategy provides marine infantry rifle squads with fully integrated future equipment systems.

The committee understands the importance and the heightened capabilities fully integrated equipment systems bring to marines operating in combat theaters of operations. The committee is aware that certain non-integrated equipment components can interfere with individual marines' ability to conduct their missions effectively, causing marines to develop ad hoc solutions to in effect generate an integrated equipment solution. The committee understands MERS is designed to prevent these problems from occurring by providing an integrated solution set to the marine rifle squad before deployment to a combat zone.

Therefore, the committee recommends $2.5 million in PE 63635A to continue the phase development strategy of the MERS program.

Marine mammal research program

The budget request contained $82.9 million in PE 62236N for warfighter sustainment applied research, but included no funds for continuation of the marine mammal research program.

The committee notes continuing public concern about the effect of sound on the behavior and well-being of marine mammals and continues to support research in these areas. The marine mammal research program investigates the effects of noise on dolphin hearing and dolphin biosonar capabilities, joint visual and acoustic surveys of the behavior of humpback whales, and also supports research in bioacoustical oceanography.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.2 million in PE 62236N to continue the program for research in marine mammal behavior, the effects of sound on marine mammals, and bioacoustical oceanography.

Metrology

The budget request contained $84.3 million in PE 64215N for standards development, including $1.4 million for calibration standards development. The budget request supports Navy lead service responsibilities in the Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Services metrology research and development program.

The DOD's metrology research and development program develops new measurement standards and capabilities to support the development, test, evaluation, and maintenance of emerging military systems. The committee notes that continued shortfalls in the metrology budgets of all the military departments have led to the erosion of critical calibration standards development and measurement services to the detriment of the development and support of new weapons systems. Recent efforts to improve research and development funding are helping, but a backlog of projects exists for fiscal year 2005 and is expected to continue to climb higher in fiscal year 2006 without outside support. The committee believes, however, initiation of the most critical unfunded projects in fiscal year 2006, particularly those in the chemical/biological and improvised explosive device detection areas, would significantly benefit the Department and the readiness of U.S. forces.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $91.1 million in PE 64215N, an increase of $6.8 million for calibration standards development.

Multi-wavelength surface scanning biologics sensor

The budget request contained $51.2 million in PE 64231N for development and demonstration of Navy tactical command systems.

The committee notes on-going research in the use of multi-wavelength excitation spectral technology for the detection and identification of biologic agents that are not discernible with conventional sensors. The current program under the advanced sensor applications program (ASAP), PE 63714D, which is being completed with fiscal year 2005 funding, has successfully developed the capability to detect bio-spores on contaminated surfaces using two-dimensional fluorescence that spectrally resolves the target in both excitation and emission dimensions. The committee notes the Navy's intention to capitalize on the success of the ASAP program and adapt the sensor technology to develop a networked capability for detection of biological agent plumes, which would be created by distribution of a biological agent as an aerosol. The committee further notes that the new work will provide a critical sensor input to the Naval Simulation System and will also enhance ongoing joint program work in predictive plume modeling.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 64231N to continue the development and demonstration of two-dimensional fluorescence spectral sensing technology for real-time detection and identification of aerosolized pathogens.

Polyimide macro electromechanical systems

The budget request contained $75.1 million for RF Systems Advanced Technology in PE 63271N, but included no funds for polyimide macro electromechanical systems (PMEMS).

Cost and weight considerations are driving reduced performance communications arrays on future Navy shipbuilding programs. The committee believes this is unacceptable in light of new architectural and advanced manufacturing techniques that will reduce the cost and weight of phased array antennas.

By using advanced flexible materials and packaging, PMEMS phase shifting and power/signal distribution offers a technology path at significantly reduced cost over conventional module based phased array designs. The committee believes that this `disruptive' technology will dramatically reduce the cost of phased arrays for multiple applications and frequency bands. A PMEMS Hybrid 2-D scanned Phased Array for an extremely high frequency (EHF) satellite communication antenna costs one tenth that of a Conventional 2-D scanned array--about $88.0 million in savings per ship-set. Inherently lighter, the PMEMS Hybrid array promises additional weight savings when significantly reduced power and cooling requirements are factored. In February 2005, the PMEMS technology was evaluated favorably by the Applied Physics Lab and the Office of Naval Research. In March, the committee learned that the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition plans to initiate a PMEMS effort in fiscal year 2005 to demonstrate the technology in a shipboard environment with the goal of having it available for incorporation into the Navy's shipbuilding program sooner, rather than later. The committee agrees with this effort and an expedited schedule.

Accordingly, the committee recommends authorization of $82.5 million in PE 63271N, an increase of $7.4 million to continue the PMEMS EHF Transmit and Receive sub-array antenna demonstration program.

`Quik Clot' hemostatic agent

The budget request contained $7.2 million in PE 64771N for medical development, but included no funds for the Quick Clot hemostatic agent.

The committee notes the effectiveness of the Quik Clot hemostatic agent in its ability when applied to a battlefield wound to rapidly cause the bleeding wound to clot and stop further loss of blood. The committee is aware that when the agent is applied to a wound, an exothermic reaction takes place, which is uncomfortable to the patient and can burn the damaged tissue. The committee understands that although Quik Clot is effective on surface wounds, it has not been developed or approved for internal use.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.7 million in PE 64771N for development of a new generation of Quik Clot, that will make the agent suitable for internal use and will mitigate its undesirable thermal characteristics.

Remote ocean surveillance system

The budget request contained $75.1 million in PE 63271N for radio frequency systems advanced technology development.

The committee notes continued progress in the development of high contrast, high resolution multi-spectral sensors and image processing technology that indicate potential capabilities for detection of objects in the ocean in real-time, at various depths, and with relatively high search rates. Realization and employment of these technologies in littoral areas, estuaries, and ports would provide the capability for a remote ocean surveillance system to provide real-time capabilities for mine detection and avoidance, force protection, and identification and dissemination of information on the surface and sub-surface threat to ports and harbors.

The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 63271N to continue the proof-of-concept development and demonstration of multi-spectral sensor and image processing technology for a remote ocean surveillance system.

Retro-reflecting optical communications for special operations

The budget request contained $94.1 million in PE 62114N for power projection applied research.

The committee notes that the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has conducted extensive research in the use of modulated retro-reflectors, which could eliminate the need for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to carry a laser for downlink communications Under the current program, NRL has demonstrated high power, high efficiency compact lasers and miniature retro-reflectometers, which can modulate a laser signal with data from the air vehicle as that signal is reflected back to the source, and laser interrogators to transmit and receive the signal. NRL has also demonstrated the high-speed modulation required for downloading data from new high data rate sensors, the type that might be carried on UAVs, as well as demonstrating the use of the technology in ship-to-shore communications. The committee understands that the next step in the program is the development of a miniaturized, gimbaled laser interrogator for airborne platforms.

The committee recommends an increase of $6.0 million in PE 62114N to continue the development of retro-reflecting optical communications for special operations applications.

Spectral beam combining fiber lasers

The budget request contained $75.1 million in PE 63271N for radio frequency systems advanced technology development.

The committee notes that high power lasers based on fiber laser technology might be capable of providing U.S. armed forces the same operational advantages as solid-state lasers, but could offer potential breakthroughs in reduced size, weight, complexity, and cooling requirements. The committee is informed that recently demonstrated technology for spectral beam combining fiber lasers, in which the outputs of a number of low power fiber optic lasers are combined into a single, high quality laser beam, could permit the construction of high power lasers from an array of lower power fiber laser elements at a significantly lower cost than conventional high power lasers.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.5 million in PE 63271N for advanced development and evaluation of the technology for spectral beam combining fiber lasers.

Superconducting direct current homopolar motor

The budget request contained $71.5 million in PE 63123N for force protection advanced technology development, including $23.8 million for advanced development of surface ship and submarine hull, mechanical, and electrical systems, but did not include any funds to continue development and demonstration of an advanced main propulsion 36.5 megawatt prototype superconducting direct current (DC) homopolar motor.

The development of component technologies for the all-electric warship is one of the major goals of the Navy's science and technology program. To this end the Navy has pursued the development of several different technologies for ship main propulsion electric motors. The committee notes that superconducting motor technology presents a number of advantages with respect to size and power density that make that technology potentially advantageous for certain applications. The committee also notes that low temperature superconducting DC homopolar motor technology has the potential technical advantages of being smaller, lighter, and quieter than alternating current (AC) electric motors, and, if realized, would make the superconducting DC homopolar motor a potentially more suitable alternative for use in submarines or in other ship applications where these attributes are desired.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million in PE 63123N to continue the program for development of a prototype 36.5 megawatt superconducting DC homopolar motor for ship main propulsion.

Surface warfare communications systems

The committee is concerned that the Navy may be procuring surface ship internal secure voice communications equipment that does not fully integrate the ship's internal and external communications systems, critically limiting interoperability with other ships and allied forces. This situation may require sailors to retransmit voice communications that could be seamlessly received, resulting in delay and possible inaccurate data retransmission. Such delay in combat could cost lives and endanger the ship, an unacceptable circumstance when better technology is readily available. The committee firmly believes that any secure voice system should be fully competed and be compliant with the Navy's network centric ForceNet concept. The committee urges the Secretary of the Navy to correct this situation as soon as possible by directing the commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command to consider communications integration and interoperability as a requirement in the procurement of secure voice communications equipment for the fleet.

Synthetic aperture sonar commonality

The Navy is developing synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) for application in undersea warfare against mines and against submarines. Currently, different processors are in development for different systems, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has expressed interest in one variant of the candidate processors. The committee believes that the processors for these systems should be standardized to the maximum possible extent. The committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to assess the feasibility of establishing commonality in SAS processors and the ability to achieve a best option or blend of the best capabilities which could then be defined as the common SAS processor. The Secretary shall submit a report of the results of the assessment to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2006.

Tactical E-field buoy development

The budget request contained $7.0 million in PE 63254N for advanced component development and prototypes for anti-submarine warfare systems, including the continued development and evaluation of nonlinear dynamics and stochastic resonance (NDSR) for acoustic, magnetic, and other anti-submarine warfare sensor and signal processing applications.

The committee notes the continuing progress in the application of nonlinear dynamics science and technology to non-acoustic shallow water anti-submarine warfare and the potential for greatly improving anti-submarine warfare systems performance as a result of significantly increased electromagnetic detection ranges, enhanced sonar target discrimination, and improved signal processing. One result of this program has been the establishment of the effectiveness of E-field sensors using state-of-the-art sensor technology coupled with nonlinear signal processing.

The committee believes that an air-launched tactical E-field buoy patterned after the Air Deployed Active Receiver sonobuoy has great potential for real-time target detection and classification.

The committee recommends an increase of $8.0 million in PE 63254N to continue the program for accelerated component and prototype design, development, and testing of a tactical E-field buoy for littoral anti-submarine warfare.

Use of out of service torpedo components for unmanned undersea vehicle systems

The committee is aware that the Navy has explored the possibility of using out of service torpedo components as major elements of new Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), including components of the Mark 46 and Mark 50 torpedoes. UUV systems must operate in the harsh undersea environment, presenting several complex engineering challenges. The committee supports the approach of using proven, pre-engineered systems and components in UUV programs. Another out of service torpedo system, the Mark 44, may also hold potential for use in UUV systems. Use of the Mark 44 torpedo body and electrical propulsion system, combined with modern low cost guidance units and sensors could provide a quick, near term demonstration capability at low cost. The committee directs the Navy to evaluate use of the Mark 44 as a low cost UUV demonstration capability, and to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on its analysis and findings by February 1, 2006.

Virtual at-sea training initiative

The budget request contained $68.5 million in PE 63236N for warfighter sustainment advanced technology development.

The committee recognizes the benefits of the Department of the Navy's program to develop a technological solution to maintain fleet readiness in the area of live fire targeting and ordnance delivery. The Office of Naval Research's Virtual-at-Sea-Training (VAST) initiative is an encouraging technology solution, which uses the application of modeling and simulation for simulation-based training, experimentation, mission planning and rehearsal, and system analysis and acquisition.

The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 63236N for continued development of the VAST initiative.

Warfare protection advanced technology

The budget request contained $16.1 million in PE 63729N for warfare protection advanced technology, but included no funding for the Naval Special Warfare Performance and Injury Program. This program shows promise in developing an injury prevention model that will permit Navy special operating forces personnel to maintain their required peak physical conditioning while mitigating the risk of musculoskeletal injury.

The committee recommends $18.7 million in PE 63729N, an increase of $2.6 million for Naval Special Warfare Performance and Injury Prevention Program.

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AIRFORCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION

AIR FORCE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

OVERVIEW

The budget request contained $22.6 billion for Air Force research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E).

The committee recommends $22.4 billion, a decrease of $204.1 million from the budget request.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Active feedback flow control technology

The budget request contained $96.7 million in PE 62201F for aerospace vehicle technologies, but included no funds for advancement of intelligent aerospace systems (AIAS).

AIAS focuses on the concept and development of valuable simulation tools for Air Force engineers and scientists for assessment of proposed future Air Force weapons systems. AIAS incorporates active feedback flow control (AFFC) technology for simulation and modeling tools in the evaluations of unsteady aerodynamic, turbulence, thermal and noise studies. Currently there are no universal, validated tools available for the new weapon systems development program designer interested in using AFFC concepts at the beginning stages of design. AFFC tools are highly relevant for a broad spectrum of designs and development such as on-board intelligence for maneuvering missiles/projectiles and on-board intelligence for unmanned air vehicles/micro-unmanned air vehicles utilizing neurobiological inspired computational processes.

Therefore, the committee recommends $99.7 million in PE 62201F, an increase of $3.0 million for AIAS in the development of AFFC.

Advanced engine starter/generator system prototype

The budget request contained $107.5 million in PE 62203F, aerospace propulsion, but included no funds for the development of an advanced engine starter/generator (AESG) system for future aircraft.

The committee notes that existing engine starter/generator systems on current and future designed aircraft are physically heavy and expensive to procure and sustain. The AESG contains design and technology advancements in power-electronics and high-speed-machinery. Subsequently, the AESG has the potential to provide future aircraft with a high-powered, engine starter/generator system that is 30 percent less in weight and 28 percent lower in lifecycle cost.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $3.5 million in PE 62203F for development of an advanced engine starter/generator system.

Advanced spacecraft technology

The budget request contained $60.9 million in PE 63401F for advanced spacecraft technology, but contained no funds for the intelligent free space optical communications node, precision navigation and position-intelligent networking technology (PINPOINT), satellite simulation toolkit (SST), or Streaker small launch vehicle (SLV).

The committee is concerned about the developmental risk of the transformational communications architecture, and notes that any laser-based satellite communications system will also require a radio-frequency (RF) capability. The committee believes additional risk-mitigation development is warranted for RF and laser-capable routers and low-cost adaptive switching.

The committee notes that as satellite technology advances, there is a greater requirement for satellites to more accurately determine their position and attitude in absolute terms. Such accuracy will be necessary for advances in satellite flying formation and arrays of small satellites

that will work cooperatively to perform mission requirements. PINPOINT fuses global positioning satellite transmissions and wideband ranging with a network communication system for precise satellite navigation.

The committee recognizes SST provides value to the acquisition and development of space systems via coherent systems engineering and virtual prototyping.

The committee notes that the Streaker SLV has the potential to provide affordable responsive launch for small satellites.

The committee recommends $72.9 million in PE 63401F, an increase of $12.0 million as follows: $4.0 million to develop an intelligent free space optical communications node, $4.0 million to develop PINPOINT, $3.0 million for SST, and $1.0 million for the Streaker SLV.

Aerospace propulsion

The budget request contained $107.5 million in PE 62203F for aerospace propulsion, but contained no funds for the Advanced Vehicle Propulsion Center.

The committee notes funding for the center will upgrade modeling and simulation tools necessary to produce the vehicle and propulsion technology efforts for future space and missile programs.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 62203F, for the Advanced Propulsion Vehicle Propulsion Center.

Aerospace propulsion and power technology

The budget request contained $77.3 million in PE 63216F for aerospace propulsion and power technology, but contained no funds for solid boost power technology.

The committee believes continued investment in solid boost power technology is important to future propulsion systems.

The committee recommends $79.3 million for PE 63216F, an increase of $2.0 million for solid boost power technology.

Affordable lightweight power supply development

The budget request contained $107.5 million in PE 62203F for applied research in aerospace propulsion, including $30.1 million for aerospace power technology.

The committee notes the need of U.S. armed forces for efficient and robust power sources. Fuel cells, which are lighter than conventional batteries or generator power supplies, offer a high potential for reducing vehicle fuel consumption, the weight of the subsistence and combat load carried by individual soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen in the field, environmental pollution, and an enemy's ability to detect combat vehicles. The committee further notes advances in technology and the potential for development of durable and cost-effective high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells that would address these operational requirements.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.5 million in PE 62203F for applied research in lightweight proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

Applied research in computing enterprise services program

The budget request contained $3.5 million in PE 33150F for development of global command and control systems, but included no funds for the applied research in computing enterprise services (ARCES) program.

The committee notes the ARCES program leverages existing systems using data fusion techniques to create new warfighting capabilities and to create network-aware software systems that optimize communication bandwidth. For fiscal year 2005, the committee understands that the ARCES program is researching solutions related to encoding techniques, dynamic information sharing between warfighters, and information security; and notes that the Congress appropriated an increase of $1.8 million for this purpose. For fiscal year 2006, the committee understands that the ARCES research program would improve intelligence gathering and sharing, reduce the total cost of military equipment ownership, lower the cost of developing future command and control systems, and extend the life cycle of existing legacy command and control systems.

Therefore, the committee recommends $4.5 million in PE 33150F, an increase of $1.0 million to continue the ARCES program.

Assured access to space

The committee believes that national security demands success in achieving assured access to space. The committee is interested in understanding all options for achieving assured access to space. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense in conjunction with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to evaluate and submit a report to the congressional defense committees by February 28, 2006, on the viability of a shuttle-derived system or any other launch system alternative that may provide increased confidence in achieving assured access to space. The evaluation should consider at a minimum industrial base issues, mission type, launch rate, reliability, infrastructure investment, and total cost.

B-2 development

The budget request contained $285.2 million in PE 64240F for B-2 systems development, but included no funds to upgrade system processors. The B-2 is the Department of Defense's most advanced long-range strike aircraft, capable of global force projection in a highly defended target environment.

The committee understands that the B-2's existing on-board processing and memory capacity is inadequate to accommodate future upgrades, and believes that they should be improved to accommodate the following future upgrades: extremely high frequency satellite communications; improved target acquisition; precision and moving target engagement; pre- and post-strike assessment; global air traffic management; and other intelligence; surveillance and reconnaissance improvements.

Therefore, the committee recommends $305.2 million for B-2 systems development, an increase of $20.0 million to upgrade system processors, and encourages the Department of the Air Force to complete funding for this upgrade in its Future Years Defense Program.

Ballistic missile technology

The budget request contained no funds for PE 63311F for ballistic missile technology. This program element has traditionally provided funding for developing, integrating, and demonstrating advanced guidance, navigation, and control technologies for ballistic missiles, space launch vehicles, and next generation strategic systems. This program element has also traditionally funded upgrades for range safety instrumentation. The committee notes that this program element was funded at $11.6 million in fiscal year 2005 and believes that such efforts should be continued.

The committee recommends $10.0 million for PE 63311F, an increase of $10.0 million, of which $6.0 million is for guidance system development and $4.0 million is for range safety upgrades.

Biostatic protective clothing

The budget request contained $10.2 million in PE 64617F for agile combat support but included no funds for the development of biostatic protective clothing.

The committee understands that the capabilities of biostatic protective clothing include a thermally efficient wicking concept made with an extruded continuous filament yarn which has the potential for superior moisture management. The committee further understands that early biostatic protective clothing prototypes have been tested and found to resolve some shortcomings associated with clothing used by those military personnel currently deployed to combat theaters of operation.

Consequently, the committee recommends $14.0 million in PE 64617F, an increase of $3.8 million for biostatic protective clothing.

C-130 airlift squadrons

The budget request contained $233.0 million in PE 41115F for C-130 development programs, but included no funds for the real-time measurement weight and balance system or for development of the automated inspection, repair, corrosion and aircraft tracking (AIRCAT) system.

The committee understands that current C-130 weight and balance calculations are based on historical survey data, rather than on actual weights flown for each mission. Further, the committee notes that miscalculated weights were a likely factor in a recent C-130 aircraft accident and in a recent commercial passenger-carrying aircraft accident. The committee understands that a real-time measurement weight and balance system could be developed that would improve aircraft safety by measuring the actual aircraft weight and center of gravity of a C-130 aircraft, thereby improving safety and cost savings. In fiscal year 2005, the committee recommended an increase of $3.0 million and notes that $2.0 million was appropriated for this system. Consequently, the committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million to qualify a real-time weight and balance system on the C-130 aircraft.

The AIRCAT system would develop tools for collection and analysis of data for the purpose of instituting a condition-based maintenance (CBM) program on the C-130 aircraft. The committee understands CBM techniques are used in many aviation activities because they improve fleet maintenance planning and management, improve safety through a better awareness of flight worthiness, and reduce total ownership costs. Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million for this purpose.

The committee recommends $243.0 million in PE 41115F, a total increase of $10.0 million.

Commercial communications bandwidth

The committee recognizes the important contribution commercial satellite communications systems provide to military operations. The need for commercial bandwidth to supplement military systems will remain a requirement into the future. As a result, the committee believes a long-term commitment to the appropriate use of commercial satellite communications capacity is in the U.S. government's best interest. The committee believes a multi-year procurement strategy with the use of annual contract options would provide sufficient commitment to industry and provide the government ample flexibility to terminate work as necessary. The committee recommends use of this alternative to procure commercial bandwidth to support military operations for those cases where it is the most efficient and effective procurement method.

Cost analysis for space acquisitions

The committee is alarmed by the number of space acquisition programs experiencing unexpected cost growth over the past decade. Virtually every major space acquisition program has experienced or sits dangerously close to a Nunn-McCurdy breach. The committee believes the Air Force may have prevented this cost growth if they had incorporated quality independent cost analysis.

The committee is troubled about the Department of the Air Force's ability to provide objective, credible, and competent cost estimates for its space acquisition process and has therefore asked the Government Accountability Office to assess the Department's cost analysis capability. The committee is concerned that this is representative of the general state of Department of Defense acquisition policy, acquisition management, the defense industrial base and related matters.

The committee notes the Department of the Air Force has neither a formal training program nor a career development program for its cost analysts, and a minimal number of cost analysts work in the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) program offices. The role of the financial management cost estimation organization at SMC has declined. At a strategic level, the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency has insufficient resources--funding, personnel, and data--to develop and sustain a robust cost analysis capability that will meet the demands of future Air Force space acquisition. The committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to take the steps necessary to address the deficiencies in the area of cost analysis.

Counter space systems

The budget request contained $24.7 million in PE 64421F for counter space systems, but contained no funds for space control test capabilities.

The committee recognizes the proposed utility that space control test capabilities could have for command and control, modeling and simulation, and testing of space control systems. However, the committee is concerned that this system is currently designed for one specific space control program with a questionable future. The committee believes not enough planning has been performed on how this system could incorporate the space control systems currently in development.

The committee recommends $26.7 million in PE 64421F for counter space systems, an increase of $2.0 million for space control test capabilities, and directs that these additional funds

be used to explore incorporating the capabilities of the Rapid Attack and Identification Detection and Reporting System and the Counter Communication System.

Defense research science

The budget request contained $223.9 million in PE 61102F for defense research science, but contained no funds for the Space Education Consortium at the Network Information and Space Security Center (NISSC).

The committee believes strongly in the development of our nation's space professionals and that towards this purpose, the partnership between academia, industry, and the government must continue to evolve. The committee recognizes that a key component of this partnership is the Space Education Consortium at the NISSC.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.5 million in PE 61102F, for the establishment of the Space Education Consortium at the NISSC.

Distributed mission interoperability toolkit program

The budget request contained $0.2 million in PE 64740F for development of integrated command and control applications, but included no funds for the distributed mission interoperability toolkit (DMIT) program.

The DMIT is a suite of software tools that enables on-demand, trusted, interoperability among and between air mission command, control, communication, computer and intelligence (C4I) systems and mission simulator models. The committee understands that the DMIT program leverages best practices from the commercial sector including the use of open architectures, existing and emerging web standards, and state-of-the-art technologies to provide a more efficient translation of air mission tasks from C4I systems into a format compatible with mission simulator formats. Furthermore, the committee notes that Congress appropriated an increase of $5.6 million in fiscal year 2005 for this purpose.

The committee recommends $3.2 million in PE 64740F, an increase of $3.0 million for continuation of the DMIT program.

Engineering tool improvement program

The budget request contained $107.5 million in PE 62203F, aerospace propulsion, but included no funds for the engineering tool improvement program (ETIP).

The committee notes Congress has appropriated funding for the ETIP since fiscal year 2003. The ETIP improves upon existing modeling and simulation tools as well as supports the development of new modeling and simulation tools. These modeling and simulation tools address spacecraft component interactions such as solid rocket motor heat transfer, insulation performance, plume dispersion and liquid rocket engine power balance. The ETIP will be used to develop the integrated reusable launch vehicle analysis tool that determines weight, size and performance of future two-stage-to-orbit vehicle concepts. The ETIP directly supports efforts toward land based strategic deterrents and operationally responsive spacelift.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $6.5 million in PE 62203F for the ETIP.

F-16 block 30 AN/APG-68(V)10 radar upgrade

The budget request contained $155.7 million in PE 27133F for development of new capabilities for the F-16 series aircraft, of which $47.6 million would be for development of the AN/APG-68(V)10 radar for block 50 F-16 aircraft, but included no funds for the development of the AN/APG-68(V)10 radar for integration into the Air Force Reserve Command's (AFRC) block 30 F-16 aircraft.

The AN/APG-68(V)10 radar upgrade program would provide improved performance and savings compared to the block 30 F-16's existing AN/APG-68(V)5 radar. The committee understands that the AN/APG-68(V)10's increased reliability features combined with newer, more available digital parts will significantly decrease annual operations and support costs. Additionally, the committee understands that the AN/APG-68(V)10 will provide the block 30 F-16 with high-resolution synthetic aperture radar maps that would allow the employment of precision-guided munitions in all-weather conditions.

To save annual operating costs and to provide improved radar capabilities, the committee recommends $163.7 million in PE 27133F, an increase of $8.0 million for the development and integration of the AN/APG-68(V)10 radar into the AFRC's block 30 F-16 aircraft.

Fibrous three dimensional composites for conformal load-bearing antenna structures

The budget request contained $25.1 million in PE 63211F, aerospace technology development and demonstration, but included no funds for fibrous three-dimensional composites for conformal load-bearing antenna structures (CLAS).

The committee notes that three-dimensional fibrous woven composite structures are a key enabling technology to the incorporation of CLAS on future weapons systems sensor antennas. Three-dimensional fibrous woven composite structures incorporate unitized structural design methodologies which show the potential to reduce cost, part count, joint stress concentrations, manufacturing time and weight. CLAS has the potential to provide future weapons systems used for fighter interdiction, cruise missile detection, detection and tracking of moving ground targets under trees, missile boost phase intercept support, and air traffic control for unmanned aerial vehicles with more capable sensor antennas.

Therefore, the committee recommends $29.1 million for PE 63211F, an increase of $4.0 million for three-dimensional fibrous woven composite structures for CLAS.

Fixed-installation x-ray detection system

The budget request contained $21.9 million in PE 63287F, physical security equipment, but included no funds for development of a fixed-installation x-ray detection system.

The committee notes the increasing requirement of force protection measures against all acts of future terrorism for worldwide Department of Defense personnel and installations. The committee supports advanced technological development of a fixed-installation, high energy transmission, commercial x-ray system that operates in excess of three mega-electron volts and combines Compton scattering technology with integrated radiological threat detection. This technology could result in a more effective and efficient method of detecting devices containing explosives and weapons of mass destruction. Furthermore, this system has the potential to increase expedited throughput at installation entry points while simultaneously decreasing system manpower support requirements, thereby increasing overall force protection for the warfighter.

Therefore, the committee recommends $26.9 million in PE 63287F, an increase of $5.0 million for development of a fixed-installation, high energy transmission x-ray detection system.

Global positioning system

The budget requested $87.4 million in PE 63421F for Global Positioning System (GPS).

The committee recognizes the significance of GPS to both the civil and military communities and therefore the impact from loss of this capability. The committee is concerned with the increasingly sophisticated threats against GPS. The committee believes this may warrant an earlier than planned introduction of the operational capability of GPS III.

The committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to explore and submit a report to the congressional defense committees by February 28, 2006, on the merit of truncating the planned purchases of the GPS IIF satellites and the accelerated introduction of the GPS III satellites.

Global positioning system user equipment

The budget requested $125.8 million in PE 35164F for Global Positioning System (GPS) user equipment, but contained only $5.4 million for testing of Joint GPS Combat Effectiveness (JGPSCE) through the Joint Navigation Warfare Center.

The committee recognizes the increased proliferation of jamming technology aimed at GPS and notes JGPSCE testing is designed to abate this threat. The committee believes the Department of Defense should continue to remain several steps ahead of foreign adversaries in addressing this threat.

The committee recommends $130.8 million in PE 35164F, an increase of $5.0 million for increased support of the JGPSCE tests.

High modulus polyacrylonitrile carbon fiber

The budget request contained $74.2 million in PE 62102F, materials, but included no funds for high modulus polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon fiber.

The committee notes that high modulus PAN carbon fiber research and development is in line with and supportive of the Air Force's initiatives for advanced composite parts development and carbon fiber sourcing. High modulus PAN carbon fiber is in demand by composite manufacturers for the production of military aircraft, as well as components of missiles and satellites where there is a need for material stiffness at a relatively low weight. Currently only one manufacturer of high modulus PAN carbon fiber exists and is located overseas. The committee urges the Department of Defense to secure a domestic-based manufacturer of high modulus PAN carbon fiber.

Therefore, the committee recommends $79.2 million for PE 62102F, an increase of $5.0 million for the development and certification of a domestic-based manufacturer of high modulus PAN carbon fiber.

KC-135 replacement program

The budget request contained $99.2 million for the KC-135 replacement program.

In committee report (H. Rept. 108-106) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) and committee report (H. Rept. 108-491) accompanying the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), the committee expressed concern that a substantial portion of the Air Force's KC-135 air refueling tanker fleet will reach simultaneous maturity, and will require substantial investment to operate, maintain, and eventually replace this fleet. The committee notes that the average age of the KC-135 air refueling tanker fleet is 44 years, and understands that the KC-135 fleet has accumulated significantly more flying hours during the past four years to support aerial refueling missions in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle. To address this concern, the committee notes that section 8132 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287) appropriated $100.0 million in a tanker replacement transfer fund for this purpose, and further notes that the Department of the Air Force plans to begin a systems development and demonstration program to replace the KC-135 fleet in fiscal year 2006.

The committee strongly encourages the Department of the Air Force to use the appropriated funds provided in fiscal year 2005, and its authorized and appropriated funds for fiscal year 2006, to proceed apace in the KC-135 tanker replacement program during fiscal year 2006 to ensure that the United States retains a strong and sustainable aerial refueling capability.

Joint battlespace infosphere security initiative

The budget request contained $93.3 million in PE 62702F, command control and communications, but included no funds for the joint battlespace infosphere (JBI) security initiative.

The committee recognizes the potential JBI could provide to integrate data from numerous global information management sources for Joint Task Force operations relying upon the net-centric concept. JBI builds on the base of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software which is enhanced to enable system survivability, scalability and performance demanded by the Department of Defense. Current implementation of COTS public key infrastructure, multi-level security guards, and firewalls are not sufficient to guarantee the level of trustworthiness required with a net-centric information enterprise. In order to transition JBI functionality to the warfighter, it must be able to provide a secure, trusted information management system. Additional funding would enable software testing, validation, and submission of the JBI system for certification.

Therefore, the committee recommends $97.2 million for PE 62702F, an increase of $3.9 million for the JBI security initiative, in support of an unfunded Air Force priority.

Laser threat warning attack reporting

The budget request contained $53.4 million in PE 63500F for multi-disciplinary advanced development space technology, but contained no funds for Laser Threat Warning Attack Reporting (LTWAR) for space.

The committee believes the nation has an obligation to protect and defend its space assets. Given the potential for laser threats to those assets, the committee believes that there must be increased research and development of warning sensors that would provide notice of laser intrusion or attack.

The committee recommends $55.9 million in PE 63500F, an increase of $2.5 million for LTWAR.

Lasers for advanced manufacturing and defense applications

The budget request contained $36.7 million in PE 63112F, advanced materials for weapons systems, but included no funds for lasers for advanced manufacturing and defense applications (LAMDA).

The committee notes the potential for the LAMDA program to provide an expanded capability to meet manufacturing and materials testing requirements at the Air Force Research Laser Hardened Materials Evaluation Laboratory while simultaneously providing a mechanism for transferring defense technology to the commercial marketplace. LAMDA also demonstrates the capacity to provide new capabilities for wide-ranging national defense applications such as micro-fabrication for missile defense, rapid prototyping and repair capability for weapon systems sustainment and laser materials interaction testing for survivability of U.S. weapons systems.

Therefore, the committee recommends for PE 63112F, an increase of $4.8 million for LAMDA, in support of an unfunded Air Force priority.

Low profile arresting gear

The budget request contained $26.2 million in PE 65978F for sustained activities at Air Force test and evaluation facilities.

The committee notes that a number of airports are used by both commercial and military aircraft, and that the installation of arresting gear equipment required by military aircraft may cause interference with commercial flights. To address this problem, one initiative is the introduction of a low profile arresting system that will minimize physical interference and obstructions to commercial aircraft. The system is designed to remove runway side obstructions, meet the requirements of the Air Force's airfield obstruction reduction initiative, increase operational safety, and reduce maintenance costs compared to the legacy arresting gear systems currently in use.

The committee recommends $28.2 million in PE 65978F, an increase of $2.0 million for test and evaluation of the low profile arresting gear.

Management of black and white space

The committee remains convinced that the integration of black (classified) and white (unclassified) space activities enhances national security. The creation of a closer relationship between the black and white space communities benefits the nation by avoiding unnecessary redundancy in systems, reducing barriers necessary to effective information sharing, leveraging the capability of both communities, and facilitating much needed communications about common issues. As such, the committee encourages continued focus on the following areas:

(1) Continued integration of black and white space programs: The committee commends the recent decision by the Secretary of Defense and the Director, Central Intelligence to produce a single system for the military and intelligence communities in the Space Radar Program and encourages the two organizations to seek additional opportunities for joint research and development, information sharing, and program management;

(2) Requirements: In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136), Congress required the Department of Defense (DOD) to develop a space science and technology (S&T) strategy to set goals and a process for achieving those goals. In a report to Congress entitled `New Department of Defense Space Science and Technology Strategy Provides Basis for Optimizing Investments, but Future Versions Need to be More Robust,' the Government Accountability Office found that DOD's plan should contain stronger links to DOD's requirements generating processes, identifying additional measures for assessing progress in achieving strategic goals, and explicitly covering all efforts related to space S&T. The committee believes it is necessary to ensure there are mechanisms in place to develop such links within and between black and white space. The committee believes this includes both partnership and coordination of funding of space S&T efforts;

(3) Space Control: Given the military's reliance on space systems, it is imperative to develop a plan to protect and defend our space assets, but one that does not limit our ability to operate in space as required. The committee encourages cooperation between black and white space systems development to ensure all appropriate measures are taken to ensure data integrity and hardware survivability. The committee expects the Administration will consider the policy implications of its space control plans and begin a necessary and continued dialogue with Congress;

(4) Systems Architecture and Horizontal Integration: The committee believes there is significant value in the development of a community-wide architecture for a horizontal integration of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and communications systems. The fate of recent classified and unclassified programs in this area suggests that much more work must be performed before achieving program stability; and

(5) Space Acquisitions: The national security space acquisition performance over the past decade has been unacceptable. Both classified and unclassified space programs have suffered unrealistic baselines, idealistic cost estimates, inadequate technology development before systems design, and insufficient government systems engineering oversight and expertise. Despite suggestions that reforms have been enacted to address the inadequacies of the acquisition system, the committee remains unconvinced that sufficient progress has been achieved. Management structures and processes must be put into place to address these problems and return the national security space acquisitions culture to one that pursues visionary perspectives and achieves success in high risk endeavors.

Manned reconnaissance systems

The budget request contained $8.1 million in PE 35207F for Manned Reconnaissance Systems.

The committee notes the potential of the EAN-105E phased array SIGINT antenna to significantly enhance mission performance of the Rivet Joint aircraft.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 35207F to complete range and flight testing of this antenna on the RC-135 test-bed aircraft.

Maui space surveillance system

The budget request contained $5.8 million in PE 63444F for the Maui space surveillance system, but included no funding for the High Accuracy Network Determination System (HANDS).

The committee recognizes that the HANDS capability would reduce the potential for collisions of space assets by reducing errors in the current space-object maintenance catalog.

The committee recommends $10.8 million in PE 63444F, an increase of $5.0 million for HANDS.

Metals affordability

The budget request included $36.7 million in PE 63112F for advanced materials for weapon systems.

The committee supports the continued government-industry collaboration provided through the Metals Affordability Initiative, providing significant improvements in the manufacturing of specialty metals for aerospace applications for the private and government sectors of the aerospace industry.

The committee recommends an additional $14.0 million in PE 63112F for the Metals Affordability Initiative.

Miniaturized targeting sensor development

The budget request contained $93.3 million in PE 62204F for electro-optical sensor and related development but contained no funding specifically for a compact, ultra-sensitive optical receiver to improve smart and loitering stand-off weapons targeting.

The committee strongly supports efforts to develop improved sensors with gains in size, weight, power-consumption requirements, and capability. The committee recognizes the potential battlefield applications facilitated by developing more intelligent and precise sensors, particularly as they may be utilized in unmanned systems. The committee supports further development of opto-electronic technologies with the aim of producing smaller, lighter, and less costly capabilities.

Therefore, the committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 62204F specifically to develop a compact ultra-sensitive optical receiver to improve smart and loitering stand-off weapons targeting.

Missile and space technical collection

The committee is aware of the work the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) is conducting in the MASINT field and its value to the warfighter at the strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence levels.

The committee recommends an increase of $5.0 million for NASIC to develop a capability that would facilitate the use of data collected by airborne platforms and sensors for MASINT applications.

Multi-disciplinary space technology

The budget request contained $81.3 million in PE 62500F for multi-disciplinary space technology, but contained no funds for development of upper stage engine technology.

The committee believes access to space is a national security issue and notes that investment in upper stage engine technology would advance liquid rocket technology for that purpose.

The committee recommends $87.3 million in PE 62500F, an increase of $6.0 million for upper stage engine technology.

Nanocrystalline diamond coating

The budget request contained $39.5 million in PE 41318F for CV-22 development, but included no funds for nanocrystalline room temperature diamond coating. The CV-22 is a Special Operations Forces (SOF) variant of the V-22 vertical lift, multi-mission tiltrotor aircraft and will provide a capability to insert, extract, and re-supply special operation forces into politically or militarily denied areas.

The committee understands that nanocrystalline room temperature diamond coating technology has been developed with characteristics that offer promise for significantly improved anti-icing protection on aircraft surfaces such as the radome on the CV-22 aircraft. The committee further understands that this coating material has applications for protection against surface erosion caused by sand and other abrasive materials encountered in potential CV-22 operating locations, and that application of nanocrystalline room temperature diamond coating technology may result in future savings by reducing costs for replacement of expensive aircraft components and surfaces.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $41.5 million in PE 41318F, an increase of $2.0 million for development of the nanocrystalline room temperature diamond coating technology.

Operationally responsive launch

The budget request contains $23.5 million in PE 64855F for operationally responsive launch, but contained no funds to accelerate the TACSAT-3/Joint Warfighting Space-2 (JWS-2) demonstration or for Blue MAJIC.

The committee believes the TACSAT-3/JWS-2 demonstration would provide three significant opportunities. First, it would move the Department of Defense closer to providing rapid augmentation and reconstitution of space capabilities. Second, the demonstration would assess the potential capability of on-orbit assets dedicated to operational and tactical commanders. And third, the demonstration would allow the Department to analyze the ability of small satellites to provide niche capabilities as well as complement and supplement larger satellites.

The committee understands the importance of blue force tracking in the effort to reduce fratricide and increase force protection. The committee recognizes Blue MAJIC will provide the field commander a significant tool to improve blue force tracking. The committee also realizes that Blue MAJIC will pursue a strategy that furthers the employment of responsive launch and integrates current technology into operations.

The committee recommends $39.0 million in PE 64855F for operationally responsive launch, an increase of $13.5 million for the TACSAT-3/JWS-2 demonstration and $2.0 million for Blue MAJIC.

Penetrator study

The committee understands that Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBTs) pose a threat to national security and that currently, the Department of Defense does not have the capability to hold many of these targets at risk. The committee further understands that the Commander, United States Strategic Command has a need to conduct sled tests that would evaluate the feasibility of various options for penetrator weapons that could be used against HDBTs.

The committee authorizes $4.0 million in PE 64327F for a penetrator test that would evaluate the feasibility of various options for different types of penetrators that could hold HDBTs at risk. The committee intends that this study be completed by the end of fiscal year 2006. Should additional funds above the $4.0 million be required for this study, the Secretary of Defense should submit a reprogramming request to the congressional defense committees.

Project Suter

The budget request contained $1.0 million in PE 35206F for the development of Advanced Technology and Sensors.

The committee is supportive of Project Suter, which experiments with concepts, systems, tactics, techniques, and procedures that enable warfighters to access and utilize comprehensive, dynamic information superiority operations against conventional and asymmetric threat targets. The committee notes that the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2004 demonstrated some of Project Suter's capabilities which provided real-time defeat of enemy command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and other weapon capabilities by leveraging existing Department of Defense information technology systems.

Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $7.0 million in PE 35206F, for the research and development of Project Suter.

Quick-donning oxygen mask

The budget request contained $7.3 million in PE 64706F for development of life support systems, but included no funds for an integrated oxygen mask and goggle system.

The committee notes that current Air Mobility Command (AMC) procedures for smoke in the cockpit require pilots to don both an oxygen mask and a separate anti-smoke goggle to provide respiratory and ocular protection. However, the committee understands that the existing anti-smoke goggles were never designed to integrate with the oxygen mask's suspension assembly and that, in an emergency, the anti-smoke goggles would be donned after donning the oxygen mask resulting in a situation where the pilot would not have ocular protection until the separate anti-smoke goggles were in place. As a result of this situation, the committee understands that development of an integrated oxygen mask and goggle systems is AMC's number one initiative on its life support item development list.

Consequently, the committee recommends $12.3 million in PE 64706F, an increase of $5.0 million, for development on an integrated oxygen mask and goggle system.

Radio frequency identification rapid adoption collaboration initiative

The budget request contained $36.9 million in PE 78011F for manufacturing technology development.

The committee notes the development and application of radio frequency identification (RFID) for monitoring the inventory and shipment of cargo and parts. Similar in principle to the use of optical bar coding, radio frequency identification permits stand-off monitoring of the progress of a coded item through a supply chain. The committee notes proposals for implementing RFID in Department of Defense production and supply chains that could result in significant improvements in inventory management and cost savings in the operation of the enterprise supply chain. One such proposal would develop a methodical adoption process for using RFID technology by small and medium enterprise suppliers within DOD supply chain and develop an electronically coordinated lean manufacturing toolkit for their use.

The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 78011F for the establishment of a collaborative initiative for a pilot program to demonstrate the potential for rapid adoption of RFID technology in defense enterprise supply chains.

Rocket systems launch program

The budget request contained $13.8 million in PE 68560F for the rocket systems launch program, but contained no funds for the ballistic missile range safety technology system (BMRST).

The committee places a high priority on a responsive launch capability and believes BMRST may play a promising role in fielding that capability.

The committee recommends $18.3 million in PE 68560F, an increase of $4.5 million to explore the application of BMRST in the development of a responsive launch capability.

Satellite threat evaluation environment development

The budget request contained $79.4 million in PE 62202F for human effectiveness applied research, but contained no funds for Satellite Threat Evaluation Environment Development (STEED).

The committee recognizes STEED would determine threats against space-based assets, quantify those threats, determine threat capabilities and locations, and aid decision-makers in preparing adequate defensive counterspace responses to those threats

The committee recommends $80.9 million in PE 62202F, an increase of $1.5 million for STEED.

Single integrated space picture

The budget request contained $85.2 million in PE 35906F for the development of the Single Integrated Space Picture (SISP) program.

The committee notes that SISP seeks to provide situational awareness of space capabilities, threats and operations. The program's objectives are to provide a common operational picture of space to include surveillance, warning, communications, data relay, and navigation between various forces. The committee believes these goals are important to the development of a true common operational picture. However, the committee does not believe SISP should be developed in a vacuum or to serve a service-specific requirement. The committee believes that in order to have a true common operational picture, commanders must be able to see air, ground, space, and maritime assets to make combat decisions.

The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to refer to the Single Integrated Air Picture report language elsewhere in this report.

Space based infra-red system high

The budget request contained $756.6 million in PE 64441F for the Space Based Infra-Red System High (SBIRS) program.

The committee has expressed repeated concern regarding the continued cost increases, schedule delays, and technical problems associated with the program. The committee maintains strong support of a next generation early warning capability and of the SBIRS program. However, should the program continue to exceed the cost and schedule benchmarks set after the establishment of another new baseline for SBIRS and its associated cost estimates, the committee may be forced to find an alternative to the SBIRS program.

The committee recognizes the Department of the Air Force is currently performing an independent program assessment reviewing the technical and cost baselines of the SBIRS program. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to review and certify the final results of the assessment and submit a copy of the certified assessment to the congressional defense committees and congressional intelligence committees within 30 days after its completion.

Space cadre

The committee commends the efforts in coordination and development of a space cadre over the last year by each of the services and the National Security Space Office. The committee recognizes the remarkable progress made; however, the committee continues to see some measure of resistance and a lack of consistent vision for the space cadre.

The committee firmly believes the success of our nation's future activities in space, and the quality of our national security, depends on the professional development and sustainment of a qualified space cadre. This requires changes to training, education, personnel systems, assignment processes, and promotion criteria, for example. The committee believes that this enterprise demands nothing short of a culture change across the Department of Defense and in particular within the Air Force. The committee believes it is important that this cultural change take root in the Air Force in a deeper and more visible manner than the other services. The corporate Air Force leadership must embrace this change.

Given past performance, the committee believes that as the developer and acquisition agent of space systems designed to satisfy the needs of all services, the Air Force must focus more of its space cadre efforts specifically on acquisitions. The importance of the skills required by competent teams to build and acquire space systems cannot be underestimated. These skills must be developed and rewarded at all levels of the Air Force, but most importantly, at senior levels of leadership. Critical acquisition positions must be filled with experienced personnel to satisfy the demands of these important positions. The committee recommends the Department of the Air Force focus portions of its space cadre effort on the acquisition workforce and in the context of the requirements and intent of the Defense Acquisitions Workforce Improvement Act (Public Law 101-510) for the purpose of improving space acquisition performance.

Space radar

The budget request contained $225.8 million in PE 63858F for space radar.

In an attempt to address the technical and affordability concerns of Congress, the Air Force has proposed the development of a quarter-scale space radar demonstration. The committee applauds and encourages the refreshing thinking within the Air Force that conceived of a subscale demonstration option as a part of the space radar acquisition strategy. The application of this type of solution to other space programs in the future may validate the program and prevent many of the problems that plague space systems acquisition.

The intelligence community and warfighters have asked for a radar capability and have little concern about which platform collects the data. The committee believes that the future success and stability of the space radar program rests in the demonstration of a national radar capability in which a space demonstration is a component integrated with air and ground components.

The first step towards producing a successful and stable program is the development of a comprehensive demonstration program that will provide an opportunity to assess the utility versus the cost of a space radar system in the context of a broader radar capability. The committee understands the keys to producing an affordable and effective space radar solution will be the integration of airborne and space radar assets and the development of a robust and highly advanced ground exploitation system. The demonstration program must fully incorporate these components of an integrated radar capability. To date, neither component has received sufficient emphasis or investment. The committee supports the demonstration of a greater capability of these components in the context of space assets using existing classified and unclassified data sources and believes a demonstration of this capability should be conducted prior to investment in a new space system or significant development of the proposed space demonstration.

The committee is convinced that the Air Force is still in the planning process and has not yet fully considered the requirements for the described demonstration program. The committee does not believe the Air Force has sufficiently emphasized affordability as a key objective, and encourages the Air Force to reassess the range of technical options available to provide increased utility to both the intelligence and warfighter communities.

The committee recommends $100.0 million in PE 63858F, a reduction of $125.8 million for the space radar program. The committee directs program funds be invested in the demonstration of the following:

(1) Ground exploitation capability;

(2) Horizontal integration;

(3) Continued radar technology maturation;

(4) New technology breakthroughs that will lower the payload weight and cost.

The committee recommends the Air Force thoroughly plan a demonstration program maximizing the use of ground, airborne, and existing space assets before committing to the new development of a subscale spacecraft. The committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, to develop and submit a report to the congressional defense committees and congressional intelligence committees by February 1, 2006, with a detailed five-year (fiscal years 2006 through 2010) radar demonstration program plan that will incorporate the above direction and focus on risk reduction, modeling and simulation, ground and air demonstrations and tests, and the use of all planned or existing space assets. The program plan should include an option for the launch of a space demonstration no earlier than fiscal year 2009 and should provide annual technical and cost milestones that if met will provide confidence in a technically feasible and affordable development plan for space radar. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence to perform a detailed national utility study, develop a joint concept of operations for a future horizontally integrated radar

capability, and submit a report to the congressional defense committees and congressional intelligence committees by February 28, 2006, on the utility study and the concept of operations.

Space situational awareness

The budget request contained $151.1 million in PE 35910F for Spacetrack, but contained no funds to accelerate the space based surveillance system or the upgrade to the Air Force Space Surveillance System.

The committee believes that our space assets remain vulnerable and that the nation has the responsibility to protect and defend these assets from any threat. The foundation of any credible policy regarding protection and defense of U.S. space assets is a comprehensive space situational awareness system. The committee is concerned that the development of a comprehensive space situational awareness system is moving forward too slowly and without a coherent strategy or vision.

The committee recommends $187.1 million in PE 35910F for Spacetrack, an increase of $30.0 million for the acceleration of the space based surveillance system and $6.0 million to accelerate the S-band upgrade to the Air Force Space Surveillance System.

Space technology

The budget request contained $84.5 million in PE 62601F for space technology, but contained no funds for elastic memory composites or for polyimide macro electromechanical systems (PMEMS) for space.

The committee notes space-qualified elastic memory composite materials can significantly improve the reliability of on-orbit spacecraft deployment mechanisms and may enable collapsible, lower-weight composite tank structures.

The committee is concerned by affordability issues of a radar system in space and is interested in pursuing breakthrough technology that may provide low cost, high payoff solutions for the future. The committee sees promise in the ability of PMEMS to reduce power aperture requirements to levels that permit dramatic reductions in the size, weight, cooling and power consumption of a space radar system and therefore total system size and cost.

The committee recommends $93.5 million for PE 62601F, an increase of $4.0 million for elastic memory composites and $5.0 million for PMEMS.

Transformational satellite communications system

The budget request contained $835.8 million in PE 63845F for the transformational satellite communications systems (TSAT).

The committee recognizes the necessity of the capability that TSAT would provide for the warfighter. The development and deployment of this technology would transform military communications and enable additional military capabilities.

The committee understands that before the capability of TSAT or a similar system can be fielded, the space acquisition community must succeed in no less than eight high-risk technical areas.

The committee notes space acquisition has been characterized with repeated cost overruns, schedule delays, and reduction of expected capability. The Government Accountability Office and the Defense Science Board's Young panel have highlighted the systemic problems leading to multiple acquisition failures and provided recommendations to correct the causes. These problems include reliance on immature technology, overdependence on the contractor for program management, and a lack of government systems engineering and cost analysis expertise.

In an effort to achieve transformation, the Air Force has continued to initiate programs that are technologically revolutionary. The committee commends the Department of the Air Force on its vision for the solutions of the future and its desire to embrace risk, but is not confident the current acquisition system can accommodate the risk associated with leaps to revolutionary technology.

Acquisition and management practices, as well as industry standards and quality control must be vastly improved and, in some cases, rebuilt before the country can endeavor to achieve the transformation planned in the current budget. Today's critical transformation opportunities exist in finding new ways for the acquisition community to do business and address the fundamental need for change. Once the systemic shortfalls are addressed, the Department should once again push the envelope on technology and risk for its military space systems. Until then, and to address those shortfalls, the committee recommends an evolutionary versus revolutionary approach. The committee remains convinced, given the current state of acquisition, that this approach will provide more capability to the warfighter sooner and do so in a more cost effective manner.

The committee believes, given current acquisition schedules, that funding for evolving Wideband Gapfiller System and Advanced Extremely High Frequency capabilities will not be required until fiscal year 2007. As such, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct an independent analysis of alternatives as described in Section 912 of this Act.

The committee recommends $435.8 million in PE 63845F, a reduction of $400.0 million for TSAT. The committee directs the Department to shift the focus of the TSAT program in fiscal year 2006 from award of an acquisition contract to continued development and risk reduction of the critical technologies that will allow the deployment of this capability to the warfighter. These technologies should include development of internet protocol, a router in space, and laser communications. The committee urges the Department of Defense to consider a more prudent balance between technical risk and providing increased capability to the warfighter during the Quadrennial Defense Review and the fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2008 budget submissions.

Warfighter pocket computer development

The budget request contained $29.8 million in PE 63231F, crew systems and personnel protection technology, but included no funds for the warfighter pocket computer development.

The committee notes the potential combat capability the warfighter pocket computer could bring to the Battlefield Air Operations (BAO) kit. The BAO kit is an integrated terminal attack control capability that enables special operations forces battlefield airmen to find, track, target and control friendly aircraft, as well as other weapons assets, and then provide follow-on target damage assessment. The effort to develop a rugged, sub-notebook sized computer to assist in these combat duties could greatly enhance the development and capability of the BAO kit's battlefield air targeting man-aided knowledge improvement effort.

Therefore, the committee recommends $33.3 million for PE 63231F, an increase of $3.5 million for warfighter pocket computer development.

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DEFENSE-WIDE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION

DEFENSE-WIDE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

OVERVIEW

The budget request contained $18.8 billion for Defense-wide research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E).

The committee recommends $19.1 billion, an increase of $289.4 million to the budget request.

ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Accelerated intelligence analyst education and training

The committee is aware that the defense intelligence community needs a new generation of intelligence analysts due to the emergence of new missions and the retirement of older analysts. The committee further understands that there are very few colleges and universities that provide organized degree programs that can lead to intelligence analyst certification in preparation for subsequent entry into the defense intelligence analyst career field. The lack of such programs is compounded by the lengthy security clearance process, making it more challenging to develop a qualified analyst pool. The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 33140G for the National Security Agency to establish a process to identify those college and university curriculums that may lead to intelligence analyst certification. This funding may also be used to identify those security clearance eligible students enrolled in such programs who may also be interested in pursuing a career as an intelligence analyst.

Accelerating transition and fielding of advance technologies for emerging critical operational needs of special operations forces

The committee believes that the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) would particularly benefit by access to the Director of Defense Research and Engineering's Quick Reaction Special Projects Program. Unique among combatant commands, SOCOM has full acquisition authority for special operations peculiar equipment, material, and supplies. Recent combat experience has demonstrated the urgent need for several new items of special operations peculiar equipment that the Commander, SOCOM has no readily available authority to develop and procure for his troops in combat. Since this sort of quickly emerging requirement is precisely what the Quick Reaction Special Projects Program is intended to support, the committee believes the Commander, SOCOM, should be allowed to avail himself of this authority.

Accordingly, the committee directs the Director, Defense Research and Engineering, to make $10.0 million of the increased funding recommended by the committee elsewhere in the committee report available for the exclusive use of the Commander, SOCOM.

Advanced concept technology demonstrations

The budget request contained $163.6 million in PE 63750D8Z for advanced concept technology demonstrations, but included no funds for shoulder fired smart round (SPIKE) urban warfare system development. The SPIKE missile fills a critical need for a low-cost, light-weight fire and forget missile for ground troops to use against lightly armored and other material targets and has possible maritime application as well.

The committee recommends an increase of $9.0 million in PE 63750D8Z, for SPIKE missile development.

Advanced tactical laser program

The budget request contained $104.3 million in PE 1160402BB for special operations advanced technology development, including $61.8 million for the advanced tactical laser

advanced concept technology demonstration program (ATL ACTD). The committee expressed concern with the ATL ACTD program in the committee report on H.R. 4200 (H. Rept. 108-491). Despite the committee's doubts about the military feasibility of continuing development of a large chemical tactical laser for deployment aboard a C-130 aircraft, the budget request for fiscal year 2006 for the ATL ACTD is $20.0 million higher than was projected in the fiscal year 2005 budget request. The committee notes that this program comprises 13 percent of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) research and development budget and is projected to consume more than $340.0 million in additional SOCOM research and development funds in fiscal year 2007 and beyond. The committee believes that SOCOM has more urgent and useful priorities for research and development funding than the ATL ACTD.

The committee recommends $41.8 million in PE 1160402BB, a reduction of $20.0 million for the ATL ACTD.

Alternative fuels

The committee understands alternative fuels are comprised solely or partially from sources other than fossil fuel and notes the benefit of alternative fuels as a possible means for reducing reliance upon foreign oil reserves.

Bio-diesel and ethanol, fuel products made of soybeans and corn, respectively, meet existing federal guidelines that facilitate increased consumption of alternative fuels. The committee notes that officials in the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense have taken steps towards greater alternative fuel use, including the purchase of alternative fueled vehicles.

The committee urges further research and development in the area of alternative fuels and expects the Department of Defense to continue its efforts to make greater use of such products and to increase the number of alternative fueled vehicles.

Army space and missile defense simulation upgrade

The budget request contained $189.7 million in PE 63755D8Z for the Department of Defense high performance computing modernization program.

The Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) Simulation Center is a mission critical computer facility, which was established to provide supercomputer computational, high performance network, and storage capabilities. The center supports the development, testing, and integration of strategic defense technologies and simulations, including computational physics and chemistry, weapons design, and force modeling for SMDC, the Missile Defense Agency, the Navy, and the Army.

The committee notes increased requirements for end-to-end simulation, testing, and evaluation of advanced interceptors and sensors. These requirements include extrapolating data beyond the capabilities of existing wind tunnels to determine interceptor performance for programs such as the kinetic energy interceptor, lightweight endoatmospheric projectile, and Standard Missile 3. As sensors are upgraded to meet new threats, support boost phase discrimination, target signature discrimination, and cruise missile defense, improved seeker image analysis is required. In conjunction with planned increases in network bandwidth and improved architectures, the proposed upgrades will triple the center's classified computational capability.

The committee recommends an increase of $7.1 million in PE 63755D8Z for the SMDC simulation center upgrade program.

Asymmetric protocols for biological defense

The budget request contained $145.4 million in PE 62383E for biological warfare defense applied research.

A military or terrorist scenario in which aerosolized biological agents such as anthrax spores or smallpox virus are used would almost certainly result in mass casualties. Weaponized forms of the agents offer significant challenges to medical treatments that are not found in naturally occurring forms. While antibiotics are the only approved method for treating anthrax, the 2003 bioterrorist anthrax attack in Washington, D.C., showed that antibiotics are unfortunately not adequate to provide full treatment against inhalation anthrax. The committee also notes that there are a number of biological agents that could, with appropriate development and weaponization, be used in biological warfare or in a terrorist attack. Developing specific protections against all possible biological agents presents a significant challenge. As a result, the committee believes there is a need for therapeutics that would provide broad spectrum protection against a range of possible biological agents and also work in concert with other methods of treatment.

The committee notes research in therapeutics, sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, shows good results from laboratory testing in mice against pox virus and against anthrax and appears to have the potential for providing broad spectrum protection. Other tests have involved therapeutics that may reinforce the innate immunity of the host. A detailed review of the research in November 2004 indicates that the results of the research to date are promising and the program is ready to move into trials with larger animals.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 62383E for applied research in multivalent asymmetric protocols that would provide broad spectrum protection for biological defense.

Ballistic missile defense

The budget request contained $7.8 billion for ballistic missile defense.

The committee notes that the budget request represents a $1.0 billion decrease from the fiscal year 2006 projections contained in the fiscal year 2005 request. Given that the Department of Defense had to make difficult programmatic decisions, the committee approves of the overall strategy employed in revising the fiscal year 2006 request for ballistic missile defense. While the committee understands that the spiral development strategy employed by the Department for ballistic missile defense is appropriate to the research and development nature of the ballistic missile defense program elements, the committee also notes that rigorous testing that leads to fielding of operational systems takes priority over future block research and development efforts. Thus, the committee recommends a reallocation of the request to focus on testing and fielding of near term capability ballistic missile defense elements. The committee also encourages the Department to continually reevaluate future block efforts in light of the results from operationally realistic testing to ensure that future year research and development efforts in one program do not get too far ahead of the actual performance results of the baseline system being tested, such as with Ground-based Midcourse Defense and the Airborne Laser program.

The committee recommends $7.9 billion, an increase of $100.0 million.

Boost defense segment

The budget request contained $483.9 million in PE 63883C for boost phase defense. The committee notes that the Airborne Laser (ABL) program met two major milestones in late 2004 and that the program has been structured so as to require achievement of incremental knowledge points prior to the scheduled lethal demonstration in 2008. The committee approves of this program restructuring that facilitates objective evaluations of program performance by the Department of Defense at specified knowledge points.

The committee notes that to make progress towards the 2008 lethal demonstration, the System Integration Laboratory Laser Long Run Performance Test, scheduled in fiscal year 2005, is a critical milestone. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit with the fiscal year 2007 budget request a specific evaluation of the System Integration Laboratory Laser Long Run Performance Test. Included in this specific evaluation shall be an assessment of how the test fared against duration goals set prior to the test, the ability to duplicate this duration at expected ABL aircraft operating altitudes, and the ballistic missile threats that can be defeated with confidence by laser firings of the duration tested.

While the committee supports the knowledge point approach taken by the Department towards the Airborne Laser program, it also recognizes that decisions on future funding support must take into account the operational capabilities and costs of a deployed boost phase defense system. The committee notes that while the Department has stated in the budget request that the ABL program is the primary boost phase defense program, funds are also requested for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) or System Interceptor Program. Accordingly, the committee includes a provision (sec. 231) that would require the Secretary to submit a report on a capability and cost estimate comparison between the ABL, KEI and any other boost phase defense system under consideration by the Department.

For purposes of comparison, the report shall assume the planned ABL and KEI Block 2010 capabilities as submitted in the fiscal year 2006 budget request. The report should include the following elements in its comparison of the Airborne Laser and Kinetic Energy Interceptor programs:

(1) An assessment of the operational capabilities of the two systems against ballistic missiles launched from North Korea or a location in the Middle East against the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii;

(2) An assessment of the quantity of operational assets required for deployment periods of seven days, thirty days, ninety days, and one year;

(3) Basing options, including forward-deployed options for Airborne Laser and for both land and sea-based options for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor; and

(4) An assessment of life-cycle costs to include research and development efforts, procurement, deployment, operating and infrastructure costs.

Core

The budget request contained $447.0 million in PE 63890C for ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems core.

Within the program, the request reflected an increase of $63.9 million for BMD information management systems. While the committee notes that additional funds are required to support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Center, Von Braun Complex, the MDA Campus, and enterprise applications compliance requirements, it does not support the full amount of the requested increase.

The committee recommends $407.0 million in PE 63890C, a decrease of $40.0 million for BMD information management systems.

Midcourse defense segment

The budget request contained $3.3 billion in PE 63882C for ballistic missile defense (BMD) midcourse defense segment.

The committee is concerned that the test program for Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) may not be adequately resourced in the budget request based on recent reports from an independent review team chartered by the Director, Missile Defense Agency to review the GMD test program following recent GMD flight test failures. The independent review team recommended additional ground test and expanded qualification test resources for the GMD program. The committee recommends an increase of $50.0 million for additional ground test units and expanded qualification testing to support the GMD test program. The committee further recommends an increase of $100.0 million for an additional flight-intercept test from an operational silo to be conducted as soon as practicable.

The committee notes that the budget request includes $50.0 million for long lead procurement of Block 2008 ground based interceptors 31-40. The committee believes that testing of the Block 2004 and Block 2006 capabilities takes priority over long lead procurement for Block 2008 interceptors. The committee recommends reallocating resources from Block 2008 ground based interceptors 36-40 to fund the higher priority effort of ensuring the ground test program is robust and fully resourced. Accordingly, the committee recommends funding only the first 5 (31-35) of the additional 10 Block 2008 interceptors, a reduction of $25.0 million.

The committee notes that the Department of Defense has announced plans to cancel the dual booster strategy and instead will rely upon the Orbital Sciences (OBV) booster in the future. The committee also understands that the Department has yet to make a final decision on what option to pursue for termination of the Lockheed Martin (BV+) booster procurement. While the committee takes no action with respect to any savings that may be realized in shifting to the single booster approach, the committee does encourage the Department to consider applying any future savings to flight test ground based interceptors.

The budget request contained $836.0 million for Aegis BMD, including $24.8 million for the Japanese Cooperative Program. The committee is encouraged by the recent successful intercept of an Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block I Missile. The committee fully supports the Aegis BMD program and provides $881.0 million for AEGIS BMD, an increase of $45.0 million as follows: $25.0 million to support development of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense signal processor; $10.0 million to accelerate the throttleable divert and axial control system as a risk reduction alternative to the existing solid divert and attitude control system design; and $10.0 million to accelerate integration of the two-color seeker into the SM-3 Block IB Kinetic Warhead.

The committee recommends $3.4 billion in PE 63882C, an increase of $170.0 million for the midcourse defense segment.

Missile defense advanced technology

The committee notes that the Director, Missile Defense Agency and the Commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in March 2005 that covers research, development, testing, and transition of advanced technology for the Ballistic Missile Defense System. This MOA retains overall program planning and direction for advanced technology programs at the Missile Defense Agency. Further, the MOA establishes a Kill Vehicle Center of Excellence at SMDC and assigns other advanced technology projects to the SMDC Technical Center.

The committee understands the critical role of the SMDC Technical Center in advanced technology development for missile defense. The committee encourages the Missile Defense Agency to incorporate in its Future Year Defense Plan budget process an investment strategy to support technology innovation for future missile defense advanced technology programs.

Procurement funding and transition of ballistic missile defense systems to services

The committee is concerned that the Department of Defense has not yet clearly established a mechanism or specified the criteria under which the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) transfers responsibility for continued development and procurement of missile defense systems to the services. The committee urges the Department to reach an agreement on how to properly allocate sufficient budgetary resources to ensure the seamless transition of ballistic missile defense elements to the services prior to submission of the fiscal year 2007 budget request.

The committee is concerned with the Future Year Defense Plan (FYDP) strategy for procuring Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, assuming that both programs are successful in their planned developmental intercept flight tests. The Aegis BMD program is delaying important upgrades, particularly for a two-color infrared seeker and a throttleable divert attitude and control system, and assumes an inefficient production rate due solely to fiscal constraints. Similarly, THAAD's outyear funding is also inadequate. The MDA has already identified a sizeable shortfall for THAAD in fiscal year 2006 and the FYDP assumes only one THAAD firing unit will be procured.

The committee urges the Department to reevaluate its acquisition strategy in the next budget cycle and ensure that systems such as Aegis BMD and THAAD have a coherent strategy that is adequately funded to transition fielded elements to the services.

Products

The budget request contained $455.2 million in PE 63889C for ballistic missile defense (BMD) products, an increase of $71.4 million from the fiscal year 2005 appropriation.

The committee notes that the budget request contained an increase of $118.1 million for command and control, battle management and communications (C2BMC) Block 2006 and an increase of $65.1 million for C2BMC Block 2008. While the committee understands the importance of C2BMC to the BMD System, it does not support such a significant increase in spending on C2BMC Block 2008 until C2BMC Block 2006 has completed operationally realistic testing involving actual intercept tests. The committee authorizes $45.9 million for C2BMC Block 2008, a decrease of $30.0 million. The committee notes that even with this funding decrease in C2BMC Block 2008, the authorization represents an increase of $22.0 million for all block C2BMC spending compared to the fiscal year 2005 appropriation. The committee also directs the Department to focus its efforts on C2BMC performance in support of near term Block 2006 requirements.

The committee notes that the request contains $11.0 million for Hercules Block 2010. While the committee supports the overall goal of the Hercules program, consistent with other recommendations in this report, it does not support funding for future year block efforts prior to successful operational testing of more near term projects. The committee recommends $6.0 million for Hercules Block 2010, a decrease of $5.0 million.

The committee notes that the budget request contained $56.5 million for Joint Warfighter Support, more than double the fiscal year 2005 appropriation. The committee does not believe such a significant increase is warranted and notes that a portion of the increase is to expand BMD system Exercise and War Gaming to include fielding of new capabilities. While the committee understands the need to look to the future as part of spiral development, the committee also notes that efforts looking at new capabilities are somewhat premature until the nearer term capabilities are successfully tested. The committee recommends $41.5 million, a decrease of $15.0 million, for Joint Warfighter Support Block 2008.

System interceptor

The budget request contained $229.7 million in PE 63886C for System Interceptor. As noted previously, the committee supports the Department of Defense's (DOD) restructuring of the Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI), or System Interceptor, program with the fiscal year 2006 budget. This restructuring appropriately emphasizes the development of a quick acceleration booster as the critical knowledge point for the KEI program. The program office plans for a KEI booster demonstration in fiscal year 2008.

While the focus on KEI booster development is appropriate, the committee also understands that the need to identify and intercept a target in the boost phase presents technological and operational challenges to either a directed energy or kinetic energy weapon. In the KEI operational scenario, the command and control, battle management and communications (C2BMC) system faces a challenging timeline to facilitate intercept while the ballistic missile is still in the boost phase. Therefore, the committee encourages the Department to demonstrate the C2BMC timeline and fire control performance as a critical knowledge point prior to the end of fiscal year 2006.

The committee notes that the Future Year Defense Plan profile for the KEI program reflects substantial increases in program funding requirements beginning in fiscal year 2007. While the committee supports the DOD's approach to boost phase defense, the committee observes that the Department must carefully evaluate the affordability of future year spending requirements for boost phase defense programs and must reevaluate future plans based on demonstrated performance of both the Airborne Laser (ABL) and KEI programs. Should the ABL program fail to meet its specified requirements at the designated program knowledge points, the committee fully expects the Department to quickly reevaluate the primary and secondary boost-phase options and to adjust future budget requests accordingly.

The committee recommends $229.7 million, the amount of the budget request for the System Interceptor program.

Technology

The budget request contained $136.2 million in PE 63175C for ballistic missile defense technology.

The committee understands that the Department of Defense has determined that the High Altitude Airship (HAA) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) has experienced weight problems and that the projected time to resolve certain performance problems exceeds the criteria for continuation as an ACTD program. The committee also notes that other organizations within the Department are pursuing HAA programs for homeland defense. The committee recommends no funding for the HAA program, a decrease of $16.8 million.

The committee is aware of the potential enhancements that improved wide bandgap devices offer for high power, high frequency radars that have applications for missile defense. The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million to enable the development of and insertion opportunities for Aluminum Nitride Substrates for wide bandgap devices in missile defense system radars.

Given the importance of intercepting ballistic missiles in the boost phase, the committee believes that the Department should be open to considering additional and potentially less expensive options for boost phase defense. The committee observes that the Air Force has conducted some preliminary studies into the feasibility of using the advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) launched from tactical aircraft to intercept ballistic missiles in boost phase ascent. The committee believes that tactical aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may potentially offer an alternate launch platform for air intercept missiles for boost phase defense.

The committee recommends an increase of $7.8 million in PE 63175C for architectural studies to determine the technical feasibility of the concept of using tactical systems in the AMRAAM family launched from tactical aircraft or UAVs as platforms from which to interdict threat ballistic missiles in their boost phase using `hit-to-kill' technologies. This study shall include an evaluation of the modifications required to the seeker of the selected interceptor missile to perform boost phase intercept missions.

Terminal defense segment

The budget request contained $1.1 billion in PE 63881C for ballistic missile defense terminal defense segment.

The committee is encouraged by the aggressive flight test schedule for the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) program, with 10 flight tests scheduled for fiscal years 2005 through 2007. The committee also understands that the program is still trying to recover from both a plant explosion at the boost motor/thrust vector actuation supplier in 2003 and a funding reduction in fiscal year 2005. Observing that the THAAD program represents a potentially near term fielding capability, the committee recommends an increase of $25.0 million for THAAD risk reduction.

The committee further notes that the first THAAD fire unit is scheduled to be fielded in fiscal year 2009. While the committee fully supports the THAAD program, it also has concerns on the exact plans for transitioning THAAD to the Department of the Army and for future year funding once transitioned to an operational status. The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to submit by March 1, 2006, a report to the congressional defense committees that specifies the testing milestones that must be met by the Missile Defense Agency prior to transitioning THAAD fire units to the Army as well as the Department of the Army's Future Year Defense Plan funding for fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to support transitioning and fielding of the THAAD system.

Testing

The committee notes that the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system experienced several test setbacks last year. The committee notes that the root cause of testing failures must be clearly identified. The committee directs the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation to include an independent assessment of the root cause of all testing failures encountered during the previous year in each annual assessment of ballistic missile defense testing submitted in accordance with section 232(h) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-107).

In addition, the committee notes that in the most recent annual report, the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation identified multiple concerns about the Missile Defense Agency's ability to characterize the operational capability of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system's limited defensive operations against long-range ballistic missiles. The committee directs the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation to submit an evaluation of the Missile Defense Agency's efforts to address these concerns in the next annual assessment report.

Business management and modernization program

The budget request contained $172.1 million in research and development for the development of the business management modernization program (BMMP). This program is the Department of Defense's (DOD) plan to transform and modernize its business and financial processes and systems. BMMP seeks to tie together and to ensure interoperability between financial, accounting, human resources, logistics, acquisition, information technology infrastructure, and strategic planning and budgeting systems.

The committee is supportive of the new Defense Business Systems Management Committee (DBSMC) that was established as a result of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) and the leadership that has recently occurred. The committee strongly encourages the Secretary of Defense and the DBSMC to review and implement section 332 of Public Law 108-375 as it lays the foundation for defense business systems architecture, modernization, and accountability.

In addition, the committee notes that the BMMP program office has not finalized a strategy to expend the remainder of its fiscal year 2005 appropriated dollars, and has not provided a plan detailing program specific goals for the fiscal year 2006 budget request. The committee does not support funding for an information technology program that does not have firmly established requirements or a schedule to deliver capabilities that are unclear at this time.

Accordingly, the committee recommends a decrease of $55.4 million for the development of BMMP.

Chemical/biological defense research, development, test and evaluation program

The budget request contained a total of $898.0 million for chemical and biological defense research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), including $72.5 million in PE 61384BP for basic research, $187.8 million in PE 62384BP for applied research, $164.5 million in PE 63384BP for advanced technology development, $100.8 million in PE 63884BP for

advanced component development and prototypes, $280.9 million for system development and demonstration, $81.5 million in PE 65384BP for RDT&E management support, and $10.1 million for operational systems development. The budget request also contained $145.4 million in PE 62383E for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) biological defense research program.

The committee notes that the changing chemical and biological threat, both to U.S. armed forces on the world's battlefields and to U.S. homeland security, places more emphasis on the need for responsive technology options that could address the threat; the ability to quickly assess, develop, and demonstrate the technology; and then, the ability to rapidly insert or deploy the technology in fielded systems. The committee also continues to note the wealth of new concepts and technologies of varying levels of maturity that emerge annually from the nation's science and technology base.

The committee recommends continuation of the chemical and biological defense research and development initiatives established in the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), one in the basic research category, one in applied research category and one in the advanced technology development category, and adds an additional initiative in advanced component development and prototyping. These initiatives will provide the opportunity for emerging technologies and concepts to compete for funding on the basis of technical merit and on the contribution that the technology could make to the chemical and biological defense capabilities of the armed forces and to homeland defense. The new advanced component development and prototyping initiative will provide a means to enhance transition of the most promising mature technologies from the science and technology base to acquisition programs. The committee encourages the use of the broad agent announcement in soliciting proposals for candidate projects under each of the initiatives.

Chemical/biological defense basic research initiative

The committee recommends that the technologies to be considered for funding under the basic research initiative include, but are not limited to the following:

(1) Engineered pathogen identification and countermeasures (`Bug to Drug');

(2) Fluorescence Activated Sensing Technology; and

(3) Multipurpose biodefense immunoarrays

The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 61384BP for the chemical/biological defense basic research initiative.

Chemical/biological defense applied research and advanced technology development initiatives

The committee recommends that technologies to be considered for funding under the applied research and advanced technology development initiatives include, but are not limited to the following:

(1) Improved prophylaxis against neurotoxin effects;

(2) Novel vaccine platform development;

(3) Novel vaccine/therapeutic delivery means;

(4) Advanced concepts in regenerative air filtration;

(5) Wide-area detection and warning systems;

(6) Broad specificity enzyme-based destruction of agents;

(7) Sensor placement/optimization for next generation battle space management; and

(8) Rapid antibody-based biological countermeasures.

The committee recommends an increase of $20.0 million in PE 62384BP to continue the chemical/biological defense applied research initiative, an increase of $15.0 million in PE 63384BP to continue the chemical/biological defense advanced technology development initiative.

Chemical/biological defense advanced component development and prototyping initiative

During its review of the fiscal year 2006 budget request the committee noted that the budget request for the total chemical and biological defense research and development program increased $183.1 million compared to the amount provided in fiscal year 2005, but also noted that the amount requested for advanced component development and prototypes decreased by $24.9 million. The committee notes that activities supported by this budget category are critical to the transition of promising technologies from the science and technology base into development and that additional funding is required to meet the validated objectives of the chemical biological defense program in the areas of:

(1) Medical surveillance concepts and prototypes;

(2) Wide-area surveillance, cueing, detection and warning;

(3) Broad-spectrum therapeutics; and

(4) Broad spectrum detection capabilities.

Consequently, the committee recommends $125.8 million in PE 63884BP, an increase of $25.0 million for the advanced component development and prototyping initiative.

Combating terrorism technology support

The budget request contained $55.3 million in PE 63122D8Z for combating terrorism technology support advanced technology development.

The combating terrorism technology support program develops technology and prototype equipment that addresses needs and requirements with direct operational application in the national effort to combat terrorism. The program addresses defense, interagency, and international requirements for combating terrorism technology. Projects support anti-terrorism, counter-terrorism, intelligence and terrorism consequence management activities to: conduct tactical operations; protect military forces, civilian personnel, installations, infrastructure elements and the general population from terrorist attack; detect, neutralize, and mitigate the effect of conventional and unconventional devices; conduct surveillance and tracking of terrorists; conduct threat and incident assessments; and process and disseminate information. As a part of the program, international allies have worked jointly with the United States to fund a variety of key technologies that provide the U.S. armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and first responders with key enabling tools to counter terrorism.

The committee notes and highly commends the contributions made by the Technical Support Working Group in the development, demonstration, and fielding of advanced technologies for the fight against terrorism.

The committee recommends $80.3 million in PE 63122D8Z, an increase of $25.0 million for the combating terrorism technology support program to develop and field critical operational capabilities to counter and protect against terrorist chemical, biological, and explosive threats against military and civilian targets.

Connectory for rapid identification of advanced technology

The budget request contained $22.4 million in PE 63712S for generic logistics research and development technology demonstrations, but included no funding for continuation of the connectory project.

The objective of the connectory project is to develop a capability for the rapid identification of technology sources for the Department of Defense (DOD) that would provide the Department with instant access to the industrial base, and permit the rapid identification of promising sources of new, creative technical solutions for current combat and anti-terrorism programs. The committee notes the progress in the program and plans for developing methods for screening manufacturers and their products and linking these sources to DOD buyers and prime contractors, forming business networks to potentially lower the cost of procurement, and analyzing industries in a region to identify the location of emerging technology clusters.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 63712S for continuation of the connectory project for rapid identification of technology resources.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been a leader and innovator in basic scientific research and defense science and technology for decades. Originally chartered to prevent technological surprise, DARPA promotes revolutionary technology innovations by focusing on high-risk, high-payoff technologies that offer new military capabilities and complement the military departments' nearer-term science and technology programs. The committee has supported ever increasing funding for DARPA as the only agency not tied to a military service mission and the demands of a service budget to produce quick results. Recognizing that some of DARPA's high-risk programs may not be successful, the committee encourages DARPA to continue its focus on the development, demonstration, and transition of high-risk, high-payoff technology to the military departments and to U.S. industry.

At the same time, the committee recognizes that the pursuit of the more futuristic technologies must be tempered by the hard fact that we are a nation at war and our armed forces have immediate needs for innovative technical solutions across a variety of disciplines. The committee commends DARPA on its quick reaction support and fielding of advanced innovative technologies to meet emerging critical operational needs of our forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom and elsewhere in support of the global war on terrorism.

The committee believes DARPA should continue to redirect some of its more futuristic efforts to the solution of today's combat problems. Those immediate needs involving detection, sensing, protection, surveillance, and a host of other issues that may well be `DARPA hard' problems that the Agency should be examining, rather than some of the more futuristic efforts in the DARPA program. Therefore, although the committee is pleased with the overall progress in the defense science and technology program, the committee believes that increased priority must continue to be given to the nearer-term requirements of the combatant commanders and U.S. armed forces in the field.

Defense integrated military human resources system

The budget request contained $20.3 million in PE 65018SE for research, testing, development, and evaluation of the defense integrated military human resources system (DIMHRS). The committee notes this is an ambitious program that entails the development and implementation of a single personnel and pay system that will support all military personnel, active, guard, reserve, and retired. This program seeks to transform the military personnel and pay processes.

While the committee supports the concept of a single integrated pay and personnel system, the committee remains highly concerned that this program will not deliver such promised capabilities. The Department of the Air Force testified that DIMHRS will only be a 60 percent solution for its pay and personnel requirements; and the United States Marine Corps testified that DIMHRS is a degraded capability from its current pay and personnel system. The Department of the Army, which will be first to receive DIMHRS, has not clearly inventoried its legacy pay and personnel systems to determine which ones will be terminated or will migrate to DIMHRS.

The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services by February 15, 2006, a strategy to address the four military services' concerns that DIMHRS will not be a 100 percent solution for its service-specific requirements. This plan will address how DIMHRS will accommodate these deficiencies, for example, interface standards for legacy systems and or plans to augment DIHMRS capabilities to satisfy these service specific requirements.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $10.3 million for PE 65018SE, a decrease of $10.0 million for the research, testing, development, and evaluation of DIMHRS.

Defense manufacturing technology

The budget request included no funds in PE 78011D8Z for the defense manufacturing technology program.

The committee notes that the manufacturing technology (ManTech) program in the Department of Defense (DOD) is a critical funding vehicle for advancing and enabling the fielding of new technologies to the warfighter. The ManTech program supports the development of key manufacturing processes that target throughput rates, affordability, process-driven product performance, and the ability to sustain a hardware item in some form of rate production over its lifecycle.

The committee recommends an increase of $2.0 million in PE 78011D8Z for the defense manufacturing technology program.

Defense message system

The budget request contained $13.4 million for PE 33129K for research, development, testing and evaluation for the defense message system (DMS). This program is one of the warfighters' message systems, by providing secure and accountable messaging services.

The committee notes that DMS was initially created to satisfy a Department of Defense (DOD) requirement for a secure message system to replace the aging and archaic Automated Defense Information (AUTODIN) system. At the inception of this program, email use was widespread, and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) proposed satisfying this requirement with an email system encrypted with a public key infrastructure (PKI) system, as is done by commercial industry and other government agencies. However, the intelligence community rejected the DISA proposal citing security issues. To address these concerns, DISA generated an elaborate, expensive proposal to modify an existing email system, to include the

procurement of other hardware and software to support it. The committee notes that Department has spent more than $9.0 billion to implement DMS and to keep AUTODIN operational. However, the intelligence community, continues to cite security issues and does not use DMS.

Additionally, the committee questions the continued development of this program when the Department is providing duplicative capabilities with Internet Protocol version 6, standard Microsoft Outlook, and PKI systems to its users.

Therefore, the committee recommends no funds in PE 33129K, a decrease of $13.4 million for research, development, testing, and evaluation of DMS.

Defense science and technology funding

The budget request contained $10.5 billion for the Department of Defense science and technology program, including all defense-wide and military service funding for basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development. The request included $1.7 billion for the Army, $1.8 billion for the Navy, $1.9 billion for the Air Force, and $5.0 billion for Defense-Wide science and technology (including $3.1 billion for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)). The committee recommends $11.4 billion for the Department of Defense science and technology program, an increase of $901.6 million to the budget request. The committee's recommendation includes $2.2 billion for the Army (an increase of $477.3 million), $2.0 billion for the Navy (an increase of $189.4 million), $2.1 billion for the Air Force (an increase of $118.5 million), and $5.1 billion for Defense Agency science and technology, an increase of $116.4 million (including $3.1 billion for DARPA, an increase of $11.4 million).

The committee regards defense science and technology investments as critical to maintaining U.S. military technological superiority in the face of growing and changing threats to U.S. national security interests around the world. The budget request is $2.2 billion (or 24 percent) less than the $13.1 billion provided for fiscal year 2005 and is approximately $28.0 million less than the fiscal year 2005 request ($240.0 million less when adjusted for inflation). The committee notes that the budget request is 2.5 percent of the total defense budget request (compared to 2.6 percent of the request in fiscal year 2005) and does not meet the goal of 3 percent established by the 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review.

The past year has provided numerous examples of successful technology development and deployment. The men and women of the U.S. armed forces are better equipped, trained, and protected because of revolutionary breakthroughs emerging from the technology base. The committee commends the Department for the response of the defense science and technology base to the emerging critical operational needs in support of the global war on terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Elsewhere in this report the committee has recommended increased funding to further accelerate the transition of advanced technologies.

The committee notes that earlier this year the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science and Engineering released its congressionally directed report `Assessment of Department of Defense Basic Research.' The report concluded that the Department is managing its basic research program effectively, but made a number of recommendations regarding the program. The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress with the Fiscal Year 2007 budget request the actions being taken or recommended by the Department to implement the recommendations contained in the report.

The committee is deeply concerned about sustaining and maintaining DOD science and technology infrastructure, about the projected loss to the defense science and engineering work force over the next ten years of an estimated 13,000 scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians, and about the actions necessary to enable the Department to recruit and maintain a skilled and trained defense science and engineering work force. In the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), Congress established a pilot program `Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART)' within the Department to provide targeted education assistance to individual seeking a baccalaureate or an advanced degree in science and engineering disciplines that are critical to national security. Elsewhere in this report, the committee has recommended a provision which will build on the SMART program and improve DOD's ability to recruit, develop, and retain individuals critical to fulfilling the Department's national security mission.

Despite the positive aspects of DOD's science and technology program, the committee is concerned about long-term projections for reductions in DOD science and technology as a percentage of total obligation authority, and in short-term trends in the science and technology accounts of some of the military departments and defense agencies. The committee cannot emphasize too strongly the need for the Department to maintain a strong and robustly funded science and technology program that will provide the advanced technologies needed to assure technical dominance of our armed forces on any current or future battlefield.

Defense technical information center

The budget request contained $50.0 million in PE 65801KA for the Defense technical information center (DTIC).

The center's mission is to provide a timely and effective exchange of scientific and technical information (STI) and research and engineering information, to improve the quality and resource effectiveness of the Department of Defense's (DOD) research. The committee notes that DTIC provides centralized acquisition, processing, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of STI, including information that is restricted, controlled and classified. In addition, DTIC's knowledge management and leading edge information technology applications seek to improve information services and STI transfer to benefit DOD's warfighters, scientists, engineers, and managers. While the committee understands that DTIC processes and disseminates STI and performs studies and analysis, the committee is concerned that DTIC's request increased almost 20 percent from fiscal year 2005 without clearly identifying what the requirements are for the increased funding request, even after several attempts by the committee to ascertain the rationale.

Accordingly, the committee recommends $42.4 million in PE 65801KA, a decrease of $7.6 million for DTIC research and development.

Emerging/critical interconnection technology

The budget request contained $22.4 million in PE 63712S for generic logistics research and development technology demonstrations.

The committee notes that printed circuit boards are fundamental components of military navigation, guidance and control, electronic warfare, missile, and surveillance and communications equipment. The committee notes that printed circuit boards for military systems have unique design requirements for high performance, high reliability, and the ability to operate under extreme environmental conditions that require the use of high density, highly rugged, and highly reliable interconnection technology. The committee also notes that the commercial printed circuit board industry focuses on the design and high-volume production of low-cost boards and the United States has lost much of its printed circuit board manufacturing capability to overseas sources. The committee recognizes the need to enhance the U.S. capability for development and production of high density, highly reliable printed circuit boards for use in U.S. military systems.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.8 million in PE 63712S to continue the program for development of emerging and critical printed circuit interconnection technology.

Event management visualization and data analysis

The budget request contained $163.6 million in PE 63750D8Z for advanced concept technology demonstrations. The committee understands that combatant commanders need automated tools that streamline and de-conflict data input from multiple sources. In addition, the commanders also have a requirement to consolidate information into an efficient and effective display of situational awareness, in support of adaptive planning and incident management.

The Event Management Framework (EMF) improves the process of data correlation from multiple sources to build a consolidated view that provides actionable information in a fast, cost effective and accurate manner. EMF correlates multiple factors for event reasoning purposes, provides customized displays to multiple end users, and enhances the decision making process. This program incorporates techniques to use a rules-based methodology to improve communication and coordination among agencies, commands, and coalition forces by relaying information while protecting sensitive data.

Accordingly, the committee recommends an increase of $1.0 million in PE 63750D8Z for the development of EMF.

Force transformation

The budget request contained $19.9 million in PE 65799D8Z for force transformation, but contained no funds for the Full Spectrum Effects Platform, Project Sheriff.

Project Sheriff is an Office of Force Transformation initiative to rapidly field for operational experimentation transformational concepts such as target discrimination, speed of light weapons, fused sensors, and cognitive computing working in concert with active protection to produce weapons effects capabilities scalable from non-lethal to lethal. The committee believes Project Sheriff will significantly expand a tactical commander's options and should be rapidly developed for fielding.

The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million for PE 65799D8Z for force transformation, Project Sheriff.

GeoSAR mission enhancements

The committee understands that GeoSAR is a revolutionary mapping system that directly supports the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency's need for sophisticated mapping products. The committee also understands that GeoSAR products can meet combatant commander needs for geospatial mapping.

The committee provides $4.0 million for GeoSAR mission enhancements as follows: $2.1 million for field-deployable processing for rapid response and $1.9 million for radar system upgrades to support both mapping and intelligence requirements.

Guardrail Common Sensor

The budget request contained no funding in PE 35885G for Guardrail Common Sensor (GRCS) support for on-board sensors equipment.

The committee is very concerned with the degraded operational status of the GRCS program. The program contains no specific defense cryptologic funds for the continual upgrade and modification of sensors to exploit evolving signals intelligence (SIGINT) requirements. The global war on terrorism has proven that the SIGINT threat has evolved beyond most of the GRCS collection and exploitation capabilities. The fiscal year 2005 supplemental addressed some of this problem by providing additional funding for the rapid insertion of quick reaction capabilities but only as clip-in suites, and not part for the baseline funding profile for all GRCS operational systems. The committee believes that it is imperative that all four GRCS systems be upgraded to a common software-reprogramable baseline to allow the GRCS systems to meet the current threats, immediately and dynamically.

The committee recommends an increase of $10.0 million in PE 35885G for the SIGINT common configuration baseline for the GRCS.

Information assurance

The committee believes the Department of Defense (DOD) should do more to implement effective tamper resistant software capabilities on critical components and technologies. The committee continues to believe the Department must ensure a comprehensive anti-tamper policy to employ defenses against a variety of sophisticated threats. Such threats could potentially threaten our nation's strategic advantage and weaken the industrial base's technological competitiveness in the international marketplace.

The committee notes that the conference report (H. Rept. 108-354) accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) directed the Secretary of Defense to assess the utility of tamper-resistant security software and other innovative software security tools in protecting critical DOD command, control, communications and intelligence software and incorporate such protections, as appropriate, into the Department's information assurance programs. Accordingly, the committee directs the Secretary to submit to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services by December 31, 2005, the results of that assessment and the protective measures implemented into the Department's information assurance programs as a consequence of that review.

Information Systems Security Program

The budget request contained $462.2 million in PE 33140G for the Information Systems Security Program.

The committee understands the importance of video intelligence in providing critical situational awareness to the warfighter on the battlefield. The committee understands the value of the digital video products provided by the Pacific Wind video system.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 33140G for Pacific Wind as follows: $1.5 million to upgrade the video compression standard to enable high-definition images and $2.5 million to make the system two-way (full-duplex) capable.

Intelligence analyst education and training

The committee is aware that the defense intelligence community needs a new generation of intelligence analysts due to the emergence of new missions and the retirement of older analysts. The committee further understands that there are very few colleges and universities that provide organized degree programs that can lead to intelligence analyst certification in preparation for subsequent entry into the defense intelligence analyst career field. The lack of such programs is compounded by the lengthy security clearance process, making it more challenging to develop a qualified analyst pool.

The committee recommends an increase of $3.0 million in PE 33140G for the National Security Agency to establish a process to identify those college and university curriculums that may lead to intelligence analyst certification. This funding may also be used to identify those security clearance eligible students enrolled in such programs who may also be interested in pursuing a career as an intelligence analyst.

Large vehicle inspection using magnetic quadrupole resonance

The budget request contained $55.3 million in PE 63122D8Z for Combating Terrorism Technology Support.

The committee notes the development, demonstration, and employment of scanning explosives detection systems that use nuclear magnetic quadrupole resonance technology to detect the presence of explosives with a greatly enhanced detection probability and reduced false alarm rate.

The committee recommends an increase of $4.0 million in PE 63122D8Z to accelerate the development and evaluation of magnetic quadrupole resonance technology for the screening of cargo and large vehicles for the presence of explosives. The committee understands that this funding will support the completion of the final phase of the program.

M-291 skin decontamination kits

The committee is concerned about the availability of M-219 skin decontamination kits for the Department of Defense. The M-291 is the only Food and Drug Administration approved, standard individual issue skin decontamination kit fielded by the U.S. armed forces. The kit protects and decontaminates skin from all known nerve and blister agents without harm to the skin.

Currently, the U.S. Army maintains a limited production capability to manufacture M-291 kits for the D