(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “ and the CVN–80” and inserting “, the CVN–80, and the CVN–81”

(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking “costs described in subsection (b)” and inserting “cost targets”;

(C) in subparagraph (F), by striking “costs specified in subsection (b)” and inserting “cost targets”; and

(D) in subparagraph (G), by striking “costs specified in subsection (b)” and inserting “cost targets”.

(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than October 1, 2019, and on a quarterly basis thereafter through October 1, 2022, the Secretary of the Navy shall provide to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a briefing on the progress of the CH–53K King Stallion helicopter program.

(2) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the CH–53K King Stallion helicopter program, the following:

(1) estimated effects on the manufacturing readiness level of the VH–92 program due to planned changes to the program manufacturing base;

(2) the estimated costs and assessment of cost risk to the program due to planned changes to the program manufacturing base;

(3) any estimated schedule impacts, including impacts on delivery dates for the remaining low-rate initial production lots and full rate production, resulting from changes to the manufacturing base;

(4) an assessment of the effect of changes to the manufacturing base on VH–92A sustainment; and

(5) the impact of such changes on production and sustainment capacity for the MH–60 and CH–53K helicopters of the Navy.

(1) USE OF EXISTING DESIGN.—The design of the sealift vessel shall be based on a domestic or foreign design that exists as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) COMMERCIAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICES.—Subject to paragraph (1), the sealift vessel shall be constructed using commercial design standards and commercial construction practices that are consistent with the best interests of the Federal Government.

(3) DOMESTIC SHIPYARD.—The sealift vessel shall be constructed in a shipyard that is located in the United States.

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Navy shall seek to enter into a contract or other agreement with a private-sector entity under which the entity shall act as executive agent for the Secretary for purposes of the contract under subsection (a).

(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The executive agent described in paragraph (1) shall be responsible for—

(1) the number and composition of squadrons assigned to each air station;

(2) the support and maintenance workforce, including uniformed military, civilian, and contract personnel; and

(3) the construction of aircraft and support facilities associated with the beddown of F–35 aircraft at each air station.

(1) A program acquisition strategy.

(2) An acquisition program baseline.

(3) A test and evaluation master plan.

(4) A life-cycle sustainment plan.

(5) A post-production fielding strategy.

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Secretary of the Air Force may use the funds described in paragraph (2) to develop, produce, and test not more than two prototypes of the F–15EX aircraft.

(2) FUNDS DESCRIBED.—The funds described in this paragraph are funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2020 for the Air Force for any of the following:

(1) with respect to work relating to aircraft paint scheme, interiors and livery, such work will not result in changes to the VC–25B aircraft that cause the aircraft to exceed—

(2) the livery for the VC–25B aircraft will comply with the criteria set forth in the report of the Boeing Company titled “Phase II Aircraft Livery and Paint Study Final Report” as submitted to the Federal Government in April 2017;

(3) such work is not a result of late design changes made by the Federal Government to the interior design of the VC–25B aircraft; and

(4) such work is not a result of rework that exceeds the criteria set forth in the report of the Boeing Company titled “Presidential Quality Interior Acceptance Standards Report” as submitted to the Federal Government in September 2018.

(1) is within the general scope of the contract pursuant to which such efforts are carried out;

(2) is not covered by a line item for the basic work under the contract; and

(3) is necessary in order to satisfactorily complete the contract.

(1) technologies other than the RC–135 aircraft provide capacity and capabilities equivalent to the capacity and capabilities of the RC–135 aircraft; and

(2) the capacity and capabilities of such other technologies meet the requirements of combatant commanders with respect to indications and warning, intelligence preparation of the operational environment, and direct support for kinetic and nonkinetic operations.

(1) Whether the number of aircraft, types of aircraft, and operating locations that comprise the Civil Air Patrol fleet are suitable for the missions and responsibilities assigned to the Civil Air Patrol, including—

(2) The ideal overall size of the Civil Air Patrol aircraft fleet, including a description of the factors used to determine that ideal size.

(3) The process used by the Civil Air Patrol and the Air Force to determine the number and location of aircraft operating locations and whether State Civil Air Patrol wing commanders are appropriately involved in that process.

(4) The process used by the Civil Air Patrol, the Air Force, and other relevant entities to determine the type and number of aircraft that are needed to support the emergency, operational, and training missions of the Civil Air Patrol.

(1) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4301, for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, admin & servicewide activities, Defense Contract Management Agency, line 200 is hereby reduced by $25,000,000.

(2) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4301, for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, admin & servicewide activities, Office of the Secretary of Defense, line 460 is hereby reduced by $25,000,000.

(3) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 101 for procurement, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4101, for Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, Initial Spares/Repair Parts, line 069 is hereby reduced by $40,000,000.

(4) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 101 for procurement, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4101, for Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, Other Production Charges, line 088 is hereby reduced by $33,000,000.

(5) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 101 for procurement, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4101, for Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, Flares, line 015 is hereby reduced by $14,000,000.

(6) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test, and evaluation, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4201, for Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Air Force, Acq Workforce-Global Vigilance and Combat Systems, line 130 is hereby reduced by $25,000,000.

(7) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test, and evaluation, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4201, for Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Air Force, Acq Workforce-Global Battle Management, line 133 is hereby reduced by $16,000,000.

(8) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test, and evaluation, as specified in the corresponding funding table in section 4201, for Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Air Force, Acq Workforce-Capability Integration, line 134 is hereby reduced by $22,000,000.

(1) technologies or platforms other than the RC–26B aircraft provide capacity and capabilities equivalent to the capacity and capabilities of the RC–26B aircraft; and

(2) the capacity and capabilities of such other technologies or platforms meet the requirements of combatant commanders with respect to indications and warning, intelligence preparation of the operational environment, and direct support for kinetic and non-kinetic operations.

(1) Of the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance, as specified in the corresponding funding table in 4301, for operation and maintenance, Air National Guard, the Secretary of the Air Force may transfer up to $15,000,000 for the purposes of the RC–26B manned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform.

(2) Of the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 421 for military personnel, as specified in the corresponding funding table in 4401, the Secretary of the Air Force may transfer up to $16,000,000 from military personnel, Air National Guard for personnel who operate and maintain the RC–26B manned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform.

(1) it is critical that the Air Force has the capability to train against an advanced air adversary in order to be prepared for conflicts against a modern enemy force;

(2) in order to have this capability, Air Force must have access to an advanced adversary force prior to United States adversaries fielding a 5th-generation operational capability; and

(3) the Air Force’s plan to use low-rate initial production F–35As as aggressor aircraft reflects a recognition of the need to field a modernized aggressor fleet.

(1) IN GENERAL.—No later than 6 months prior to the transfer of any low-rate initial production F–35 aircraft for use as aggressor aircraft, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees, and the Member of Congress and the Senators who represent bases from where aircraft may be transferred, a comprehensive plan and report on the strategy for modernizing the organic aggressor fleet.

(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following elements:

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) through (5), from amounts made available for obligation under the F–35 aircraft program for fiscal year 2020, the Secretary of Defense may enter into one or more contracts, beginning with the fiscal year 2020 program year, for the procurement of economic order quantities of material and equipment that has completed formal hardware qualification testing for the F–35 aircraft program for use in procurement contracts to be awarded for such program during fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023.

(2) LIMITATION.—The total amount obligated under all contracts entered into under paragraph (1) shall not exceed $574,000,000.

(3) PRELIMINARY FINDINGS.—Before entering into a contract under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall make each of the following findings with respect to such contract:

(4) CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—Except as provided in paragraph (5), the Secretary of Defense may not enter into a contract under paragraph (1) until a period of 30 days has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees, in writing, that each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(5) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding paragraph (4), the Secretary of Defense may enter into a contract under paragraph (1) on or after March 1, 2020, if—

(1) JOINT COST ESTIMATE.—The Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy shall jointly develop a joint service cost estimate for the life-cycle costs of the F–35 aircraft program.

(2) INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE.—The Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation shall develop an independent cost estimate for the life-cycle costs of the F–35 aircraft program.

(3) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—The cost estimates required under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be submitted to the congressional defense committees not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(1) REVISION REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall revise the program elements applicable to the F–35 aircraft program as follows:

(2) INCLUSION IN BUDGET MATERIALS.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each revised program element described in paragraph (1) is included, with a specific dollar amount, in the materials relating to the F–35 aircraft program submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense in support of the budget of the President (as submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code) for fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter until the date on which the F–35 aircraft program terminates.

(1) ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which the budget of the President is submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the F–35 aircraft program.

(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the F–35 aircraft program, the following:

(1) The results of a review and assessment, conducted by the program office for the F–35 aircraft program, of the reliability and maintainability metrics for the aircraft as set forth in the most recent operational requirements document for the program.

(2) A determination of whether the reliability and maintainability metrics for the aircraft, as set forth in the most recent operational requirements document for the program, are feasible and attainable, and what changes, if any, will be made to update the metrics.

(3) A certification that the program office for the F–35 aircraft program has revised the reliability and maintainability improvement plan for the aircraft—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on F–35 Block 4. The report shall include the following:

(2) F–35 BLOCK 4 DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term “F–35 Block 4” has the meaning given that term in section 132(e).

(1) All shortfalls, capability gaps, and deficiencies in the system that have been identified as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) The strategy and performance requirements that will be implemented to improve the system.

(3) The strategy, implementation plan, schedule, and estimated costs of developing and fielding—

(1) Air Combat Command’s Air Ground Operations School; and

(2) Air Force Special Operations Command for Combat Air Advisor mission support in accordance with subsection (a).

“(6) JOINT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER.—The Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center may carry out a program of personnel management authority provided in subsection (b) in order to facilitate recruitment of eminent experts in science or engineering for the Center. The authority to carry out the program under this paragraph shall terminate on December 31, 2024.”.

(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (E), by adding “and” at the end; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(b) Director.—There is a Director of the Office (referred to in this section as the ‘Director’). The Director shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense and shall serve as the senior official in the Department of Defense with principal responsibility for carrying out the program and activities described in subsections (d) through (g). The Director shall report to the Assistant Director for Hypersonics within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

“(c) University consortium.—

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “program required by subsection (b), the Office” and inserting “program required by subsection (d), the Director”;

(B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking “private sector” and inserting “private-sector academic”; and

(C) in paragraph (5), by striking “certified under subsection (e) as being consistent with the roadmap under subsection (d)” and inserting “certified under subsection (g) as being consistent with the roadmap under subsection (f)”;

(A) in paragraph (3)—

(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(A) by striking “subsection (d)” each place it appears and inserting “subsection (f)”;

(B) in paragraph (1)—

(C) in paragraph (2), by striking “The Office” and inserting “The Director”; and

(D) in paragraph (3), by striking “2016” and inserting “2026”; and

“(h) Funding.—The Secretary may make available such funds to the Office for basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, prototyping, studies and analyses, and organizational support as the Secretary considers appropriate to support the efficient and effective development of hypersonics technologies and transition of those systems and technologies into acquisition programs or operational use.”.

(1) in the section heading, by inserting “of dual-use technology” after “commercialization”;

(2) in subsection (a)—

(3) in subsection (c)(4)(A)(iv), by inserting “, which may include access to venture capital” after “award”;

(4) by striking subsection (d);

(5) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d);

(6) by striking subsection (f); and

(7) by adding at the end the following new subsection (e):