2021 Federal Issues Book

2021 Federal

Issues Book HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER, ALABAMA

2021 Federal Issues Book

COVID-19 RELIEF & ECONOMIC STIMULUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 COVID-19 RELIEF FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 FEDERAL BUDGET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 U.S. HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT & EXPLORATION POLICY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 U.S. ARMY’S COMBAT CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMAND (CCDC) AVIATION AND MISSILE CENTER (AVMC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 DIRECTED ENERGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 HYPERSONIC WEAPONS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT & DEMONSTRATION (STRIKE AND DEFENSE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 GROUND-BASED STRATEGIC DETERRENT (GBSD) PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 MISSILE DEFENSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Long-Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) and Homeland Defense Radar – Hawaii (HDR-H) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Hypersonic Missile Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 National Team-Engineering (NT-E) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Integrated Air Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Patriot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3 1B and IIA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Operations & Maintenance (O&M) for Missile Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ASSURED POSITION NAVIGATION TIMING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 COUNTER SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (C-SUAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ARMY AVIATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Support Army Aviation Programs and Aviation Science and Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Apache Helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Utility Helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Cargo Helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Aviation Turbine Engines (ATE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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2021 Federal Issues Book

Fixed Wing Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Unmanned Aircraft Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Aviation Mission Systems & Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Multinational Aviation Special Project Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Aviation S&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 BIOSCIENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 INFRASTRUCTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 AIRPORT SUPPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Pilot Program to Empower Small Community Airports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Support for C-UAS Program Site Selection in Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Funding for Transportation Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Small Community Air Service Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Support Dream Chaser® Project at Huntsville International Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 MUNICIPAL BONDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 MISSILE & SPACE INTELLIGENCE CENTER (MSIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CYBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MACHINE LEARNING/DATA ANALYTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 FBI CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT REDSTONE ARSENAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 BROADBAND & COMMUNICATIONS SPECTRUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 MEDICARE WAGE INDEX – HEALTHCARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 REGIONAL ENERGY INNOVATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 NUCLEAR WASTE POSITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE, MISSILES AND SPACE (PEO MS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Integrated Air Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Initial Maneuver, Short-Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc. 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Phased Array Tracking to Intercept Of Target (PATRIOT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Project Convergence and Survivability and Resiliency Exercise (SuReX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 ARMY CONTRACTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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2021 Federal Issues Book

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COVID-19 RELIEF & ECONOMIC STIMULUS While the development of effective vaccines and introduction of new treatments signal the beginning of the end of the pandemic, the unprecedented scope and duration of the pandemic has spared no one and has been devastating for small business and service industries. The pandemic has directly impacted our schools, healthcare providers, and local government. We urge Congress to act in a bipartisan manner to provide COVID-19 relief and economic stimulus that provides direct and immediate relief while also providing the stimulus necessary for a full economic recovery.

COVID-19 relief should include:

■ Financial support for small business through grants and loans that provide a bridge to businesses and their employees through the end of the pandemic.

■ Resources such as protective equipment, access to testing, and

remote learning technology that allow school systems to provide a safe and effective learning environment.

FEDERAL BUDGET Our Federally focused business community functions best with predictable and dependable funding for federal programs. We request that our members vigorously support efforts to pass appropriations bills in a timely manner thus avoiding the prospect of continuing resolutions, which drive up program costs and adversely impact schedule delivery. We encourage Congress to support full funding for our Nation’s space exploration programs and defense programs, especially U.S. Army modernization programs. We urge Congress to continue its efforts to increase, across the board, overall funding for science and technology and advanced research and development for defense and aerospace programs. Implementing a responsible and transparent method of Congressionally directed appropriations (earmarks), would restore the Constitutional “power of the purse,” bring more lawmakers to the negotiating table, and make federal spending more responsive to the taxpayers’ needs.

■ Direct financial support to healthcare providers for the unpre-

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dictable and extraordinary costs of safely treating COVID-19

■ Liability protection to reduce the likelihood of frivolous lawsuits ■ Targeted unemployment assistance that helps those most in

U.S. HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT & EXPLORATION POLICY

■ Direct financial support to state and local public health efforts

The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) continues to generate significant economic impact to the state, region and nation. Programs managed and supported by the Center have national significance and represent the most technically diverse portfolio of any NASA Center. MSFC has a recognized 60-year heritage leading complex engineering human-rated space transportation and propulsion systems, large space structures and systems, and scientific research to make human space exploration a reality. More than 6,000 jobs directly support the mission of MSFC, yielding a statewide economic impact of $4.3B and 24,400 jobs. Just as important is the fact that MSFC’s programs impact almost every state in the nation yielding a nationwide impact of 43,700 jobs and $8.3B to the U.S. economy.

need, provides economic stimulus and remains below levels that discourage returning to the workforce. geared towards education, expanded testing, emergency response, and the distribution of vaccines and emerging therapies.

We urge immediate action on these matters.

■■■ COVID-19 RELIEF FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the hospitality industry. Every spectrum of the industry has experienced drastic drops in business and revenue. Travel related organizations have been forced to cut staff or furlough employees, with hiring and re-hiring activities on hold until patrons return. In 2019, the hospitality industry accounted for nearly 19,000 jobs in Madison County and was a key industry sector and economic driver for the local and state economy. Since the pandemic’s impact has been far-reaching and comprehensive affecting hotels, restaurants, attractions, small businesses, airlines, and more, this employment number is expected to decline significantly. The state’s number one tourist attraction, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, has been hit particularly hard due to cancelling the spring, summer, and fall Space Camps. The U.S. Travel Association is estimating that one-third of all jobs lost throughout the country will be in the travel sector. It is imperative that the hospitality industry receive financial support to survive, and time is of the essence.

Grants and other relief funds are urgently needed to offset the declines in business, revenue, and tax receipts which are the primary funding sources in the industry and are crucial right now. We are requesting your support of initiatives and legislation that will help the hospitality industry not only survive but recover.

Requested Actions: PROGRAMMATIC ■ Ensure SLS funding at a level to complete development for inservice date no later than 2021 with core and upper stages in parallel, ultimately capable of delivering 130 MT to low-Earth orbit; support Artemis 1/2/3 missions with block 1B ready for launch by 2025, sustain a cadence of once per year thereafter.

■ Encourage the fullest use of SLS as a national asset for crewed, science, and national security missions that can benefit from its unparalleled lift and payload capabilities.

■ Support the transition of the SLS from a development program to a more affordable and sustainable launch services model, managed by NASA MSFC, to provide launch support to enable exploration, national security, and scientific payload customers.

■ Support MSFC’s leadership role as the Agency’s lead for human-rated and large cargo landing systems.

■ Support continued funding of the ISS to realize the fullest science potential of the vehicle with utilization of MSFC ISS Payload Operations.

■ Support MSFC’s leadership role in lunar surface operations,

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2021 Federal Issues Book advanced manufacturing, and habitation systems (surface, orbital and transit).

■ Support MSFC’s leadership role in the design and development of nuclear-based transportation and surface power systems for long-duration exploration missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

■ Maintain and enhance MSFC’s roles in Earth, Space and Planetary Science research, applications, and missions such as the Chandra, Fermi, and Lynx Observatories, Solar Cruiser and Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV).

■ Support a substantive role for MSFC and the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) in the National Space Weather Action Plan, including funding for the Parker Solar Probe’s SWEAP instrument.

■ Support robust funding for NASA’s SERVIR and SPoRT Earth Science programs, providing data for agriculture and disaster mitigation.

INSTITUTIONAL ■ Request Congress engage NASA to assess the Agency’s Mission Support Future Architecture Program (MAP) to ensure that the current and planned consolidation efforts are not negatively impacting the Center’s ability to manage and execute its programs. This should include an assessment of the plan to consolidate contracts from a center to a corporate level and its associated impact on institutional budgets and the small business community.

■ Support utilization of MSFC engineering and management expertise by commercial interests in their development of space systems (specifically in the areas of propulsion, cryogenic fluid management, materials, and space structures/systems).

■ Sustain MSFC critical core technical and infrastructure capabilities by augmenting funding requested for the operation, maintenance and infrastructure recapitalization of the Center.

■■■ U.S. ARMY’S COMBAT CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMAND (CCDC) AVIATION AND MISSILE CENTER (AvMC) The U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC) has been a cornerstone of research and development (R&D) on Redstone Arsenal (RSA) for over fifty years. Since inception the AvMC has evolved into a worldclass organization employing thousands of engineers and scientists housed within laboratories and facilities exceeding 1.9M square feet. AvMC’s three mission priorities are to 1) execute aviation and missile S&T projects to support Army modernization priorities; 2) provide engineering services to enterprise partners leading Army modernization efforts; 3) support readiness, lifecycle engineering and sustainment efforts with Army enterprise partners. As Redstone Arsenal has grown, so has the need for the valuable expertise and capabilities that reside within the Center. Approximately 84 percent of CCDC AvMC funding comes from reimbursable customers to include Intra-service (agreements within the Army); Intra-agency (agreements between DoD components); and Interagency (agreements between a DoD component and a Federal agency) customers. The continued support for aviation and missile S&T research is necessary, along with investments in government and industry infra-

structure, to develop advanced technologies capable of maturing into the weapons needed to defend against threats from near-peer nations or non-state actors.

National Impact: Because of their extensive capabilities, the Army and Nation rely upon The AvMC as a crucial resource for solving critical engineering challenges. Presently, the AvMC serves as CCDC’s lead Center for modernization activities driven by three of the Army’s six Cross Functional Teams (CFTs). Long Range Precision Fires, Air and Missile Defense, and Future Vertical Lift CFTs employ AvMC’s experienced scientists and engineers, specialized laboratories, and repositories of proven models and performance data to determine maturity, applicability, and robustness of candidate technologies required to address defined operational capability gaps.

The complexity of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) requires weapon system capabilities to be addressed at system-of-system levels vice as individual platforms. Additionally, enduring aviation and missile platforms must remain relevant through technology insertion to provide capabilities to work complementary to modernization programs in MDO. Key modernization efforts ongoing within the AvMC include execution of the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) demonstration program, development of modular open system architecture (MOSA) for Future Long Range Assault Aircraft; Future Tactical UAS; Project Convergence 21 demonstration of RSTA, EW/EA, decoy and DILR technologies for Air launched effects (ALE); Land based anti-ship missile (LBASM) seeker technology development for Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Spiral 1 Capability; Development of the Hypersonic S&T Implementation plan; Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB) and Thermal Protection System (TPS) development for Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW); and Next Generation Close Combat Missile development and test.

Community Impact: Nearly one-quarter of Redstone’s 42,000 employees, including more than 250 Huntsville companies, work in the AvMC’s three directorates. The Center and its cost-reimbursable model create a win-win scenario. Funding organizations gain access to unparalleled engineering expertise and facilities within AvMC that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive to duplicate on their own.

The Army and AvMC, in turn, receive funds that sustain the essential laboratories and engineering talent needed to propel Army Futures Command priorities. The financial impact to the North Alabama business community from policies that restrict reimbursable customer choice can be measured in hundreds ofMs of dollars.

Requested Actions: ■ Continue to support and fund additional missile S&T funding (6.2 and 6.3 funded research) to provide engineering, prototyping and testing of capabilities of developmental items that provide innovative, advanced technologies to our military ■ Increase and support aviation and missile 6.4 funding at a level that allows the Army to transition technologies that will keep the enduring platforms technologically relevant and enable the prototyping necessary to evaluate the future capabilities.

■ Provide CCDC AvMC program managers with the flexibility to effectively manage programs to react to mission, technology or reimbursable customer requirements by aligning funding Program Element (PE) lines with the local executing organization.

■ Ensure CCDC reimbursable policies provide Army reimbursable customers with the flexibility to select the most cost-effective provider of high value services and solutions.

■ Include language in the Defense Appropriation Bill to allow Army organizations to accept payment from other Army organizations

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2021 Federal Issues Book (Intra-agency), and from other organizations (DoD components, and Federal agencies) when the work is aligned with Army core competencies and directly supports Army priorities or provide derived benefits to the Army and to the CCDC.

■■■ DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS Continued technological innovations in Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) are of increasing interest to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Justice (DoJ), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Most notably, the development of solid-state High Energy Lasers (HEL), advances in High Power Microwaves (HPM) technologies, and advances in the size reduction of weapon system subsystems have transformed DEWs from “tomorrow to today.”

HEL and HPM provide new and promising innovations that will keep the U.S. ahead of the power curve on the modern battlefield, whether against near-peer nations or in the fight against non-state actors.

This perspective is reinforced by the shift in the National Defense Strategy from counterterrorism to great-power competition with near-peer adversaries. DEWs provide the Warfighter with the ability to engage a target at the speed of light and produce scalable effects from temporary to permanent, thereby reducing the possibility of collateral damage. They also provide a relatively unlimited number of low-cost shots, constrained only by the fuel supply of the platform, which greatly reduce the logistics tail and associated cost.

National Impact: Hostile events witnessed throughout the world display real-world threats around practically every corner. Just a few examples of such events include attacks on Saudi Arabian oil refineries, the presidential assassination attempt in Venezuela, and drone attacks at Heathrow Airport in London. With the proliferation of lowcost yet capable small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), the U.S. government and military requires a sophisticated system to identify, classify and potentially destroy any threat with hostile intent. Threats are not limited to just UASs but also include Rocket, Artillery, and Mortars (RAM); rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft; and guided missiles.

Senior leaders have expressed an urgent need to field efficient DEW systems to accurately counter these threats on foreign battlefields as well as on U.S. soil.

Community Impact: The Army and the Joint Services are leveraging commonalities in DEW initiatives to increase combat effectiveness and maximize resources for possible future Programs of Record. As part of this focus, the Army has realigned DEW science and technology efforts in support of the Army’s modernization priorities. The Huntsville-based Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) has been created with the mission to execute the strategy to deliver prototypes with residual combat capability to operational combat units beginning in FY22. The RCCTO’s DEW focus is on two capability sets: Directed Energy-Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (DE-MSHORAD) and Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL). Additionally, RCCTO is exploring existing HPM solutions as part of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) and is partnering with DE counterparts at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to transition proven HPM technology.

Requested Actions: ■ Increase funding to support additional procurement and fielding of DE-MSHORAD and IFPC-HEL. This assures the full fielding of the necessary combat capability to properly equip Army units

with the tools to win on the battlefields of today and tomorrow ■ Continue to fund and support the development of follow-on DE-MSHORAD and IFPC-HEL configurations in order to capitalize on DEW emerging technologies and capabilities.

■ Continue to fund IFPC-HPM efforts in order to serve as a combat multiplier with other DEW capabilities already in Army combat formations.

■■■ HYPERSONIC WEAPON SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT & DEMONSTRATION (STRIKE AND DEFENSE) National Impact: Due to demonstrations of Hypersonic Strike Capabilities by near-peer adversaries, the Department of Defense (DoD) has intensified its focus to ensure the U.S. has both offensive and defensive capabilities to exceed and counter these evolving threats.

The Department’s sense of urgency, reflected in the 2018 National Defense Strategy, is demonstrated by numerous efforts to rapidly field hypersonic capability for ground, air and ship launched long range strike missions. Similarly, MDA has responded to the National Defense Strategy prioritization with significant investment in bolstering the national BMDS to advance U.S. capability against hypersonic threats.

Community Impact: Key organizations leading hypersonic weapon system development, the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) and MDA are headquartered on Redstone Arsenal. Numerous industry partners with a presence in the Huntsville area are actively involved in technology development efforts related to hypersonic materials, manufacturing capability, ground and flight test infrastructure improvements, program development and technical and acquisition program support to DoD agencies overseeing hypersonic weapon system development and demonstration.

These programs provide positive impact to the Huntsville community through the creation of new jobs related to the development, integration, and fielding of Hypersonic weapon systems. As a result, the Huntsville community is developing a sustained workforce in hypersonics with experience in modeling and simulation, ground test and evaluation, and manufacturing of complex high-performance systems which will provide future offensive and defensive capability to address the evolving adversarial hypersonic threat.

Requested Actions: ■ Fully fund Hypersonic Weapon System Development, Demonstration and Procurement to the FY21 President’s budget level in RDT&E, Defense-wide for development of Hypersonic Weapons.

■ Fully fund HSST and HyTIP program to the FY21 President’s budget level, Defense-wide for development of hypersonic ground and flight test infrastructure.

■■■ GROUND-BASED STRATEGIC DETERRENT (GBSD) PROGRAM National Impact: U.S. strategists have determined that for the United States, a nuclear triad is the most strategically sound means to

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2021 Federal Issues Book credibly deter adversaries. The GBSD program is the replacement system for the Minuteman III ICBMs, the current land leg of the nuclear triad. To remain effective, the U.S. must modernize its Cold War legacy nuclear forces. The GBSD Weapon System will be incorporating new air vehicle equipment, command and launch equipment and support equipment. New hardware and software will be integrated across all these systems while complying with nuclear surety, nuclear safety and cybersecurity requirements. Upgrading launch facilities, missile support base facilities and test facilities is required as well. By investing in the GBSD replacement now, the U.S. avoids the risk and cost of a lapse in the protection provided by its ICBMs. The goal is to engineer, develop and build the most capable and cost-effective ICBM system that will serve as a deterrent through the end of this century.

Community Impact: The GBSD program holds promise of a substantial number of industry (prime and subcontractor) jobs in the north Alabama area, including program management, engineering and manufacturing. Continued support of GBSD and the nuclear triad is critical to maintaining these jobs and ensuring this deterrent remains safe, secure and credible to protect the United States and its allies.

Requested Action: Support the nuclear triad, specifically the GBSD program, and continue to fully fund the Air Force’s budget request and keep program on current schedule.

■■■ MISSILE DEFENSE GROUND-BASED MIDCOURSE DEFENSE (GMD) PROGRAM National Impact: GMD is currently the only system designed and fielded to defend the entire U.S. homeland from a long range ballistic missile attack. The 44 Ground Based Interceptors (GBIs) deployed today in Ft. Greely, AK and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA provide the President with the options to intercept and destroy long range ballistic missile threats launched against U.S. territory in their midcourse phase of flight. GMD is defending the nation 24/7/365 from Rogue Nation Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and is a critical element of the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) integrated and layered missile defense architecture.

Since the FTG-11 flight test (demonstrating the GMD system ability to launch two GBIs (salvo) against a single target), many changes have occurred in the GMD program. The Redesigned Kill Vehicle (RKV) project to build additional reliability into the system was terminated due to technical issues with the design. In its place, the Missile Defense Agency has initiated a new development program for the GMD system – the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). NGI will ensure the GMD system stays ahead of the advancing threat well into the next decade. To support flexibility in operations and sustainment of the GMD system, the new GBI Missile Field at Fort Greely, AK, remains under construction. The 20 new silos will allow for movement of GBIs in order to maintain maximum operations of the 44 GBIs currently in place as well as positioned to hold future NGI emplacements.

The MDA is also considering contract options to reflect the transition to a future GMD system. The MDA is conducting market research with industry as it assesses its option going forward

Community Impact: GMD supports over 3,000 government and industry jobs in the Huntsville area, which is the main center for management and technical oversight of the system. Without adequate funding, the Huntsville area is vulnerable to losing a knowledge base of extremely highly-skilled workers who support what is considered one of the most technically challenging efforts the government has ever undertaken.

Requested Actions: ■ To ensure balance between investment in near-term capability improvements and far-term system advances (i.e. NGI and GMD Futures), support increases in funding for the program in order to initiate critical system sustainment activities as well as updates to improve the performance and reliability of the existing GBI Fleet.

■ To ensure viability in the system going forward, strong investment in robust system sustainment and service life extension programs (SLEP) must be included in MDA funding.

Moreover, support is needed to ensure current contracts are leveraged to the maximum extent to deliver these capabilities in the shortest possible timeframe.

■ Support for including GMD options in the Department’s consideration for enhancements to near-, mid-, and far-term capabilities for the homeland missile defense mission, to include consideration of an expanded and dispersed homeland missile defense architecture (e.g. CONU.S. Interceptor Site for the East Coast).

NEXT GENERATION INTERCEPTOR (NGI) National Impact: The critical technologies required for NGI are mature and ready to be transferred to a program of record. The requirements are clear and understood by industry. The NGI is a tipto-tail All Up Round (AUR) intended to be an operational weapon system that meets the current ballistic missile threat with the ability to protect our homeland against future evolving threats. This capability is expected to be initially fielded in the late 2020s timeframe.

The current GBI fleet is approaching its end of life; thus a service life extension program must be conducted in parallel to ensure that the fleet will be able to provide adequate defense against the rogue nation threat.

The NGI acquisition began with a series of RFIs and draft RFPs from June 2019 through March 2020. The Request for Proposal was released in April 2020 and Industry proposals were submitted in August 2020. The MDA is currently evaluating industry responses and intends to make an award in early 2021.

Community Impact: The NGI program will support hundreds of government and industry jobs in the North Alabama area, including government and industry program management, engineering and production/manufacturing.

Requested Actions: Support of the FY22 budget request and throughout the outyear budgets established by MDA, and vigilance against any effort to reduce or stretch out the program over what is currently planned.

TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENSE (THAAD) National Impact: THAAD is a key element of the U.S. BMDS capable of intercepting ballistic missiles in both the endo- and exo-atmospheres. THAAD is interoperable with the other joint BMDS components, provides large area defense, and is the only BMDS

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2021 Federal Issues Book element that currently uses “hit-to-kill” technology to destroy threat warheads both within and outside the atmosphere. THAAD units remain operational deployed in Guam, South Korea and Central Command today, defending against ballistic missile threats and enhancing regional security. THAAD’s unique ballistic missile defense capabilities and demonstrated success continue to increase U.S. and international demand for THAAD. Community Impact: The THAAD program provides more than 450 government and industry jobs in the Huntsville area.

Requested Actions: ■ Support the President’s budget request for THAAD. ■ Support funding for THAAD follow-on critical capability development plans to provide enhanced capabilities to the warfighter and sustain critical engineering jobs in the Huntsville area.

■ Advocate for additional THAAD international sales in support of U.S. Cooperative Defense initiatives.

LONG-RANGE DISCRIMINATION RADAR (LRDR) AND HOMELAND DEFENSE RADAR – HAWAII (HDR-H) National Impact: Due to an evolving threat, the MDA is continuing to quickly field a land-based LRDR, with an DD-250 planned in 2021 in Clear, Alaska. MDA is also looking to field a second land-based HDR-H in Hawaii. These programs are the backbone of MDA’s layered defense strategy to protect the U.S. homeland from ballistic missile attack. LRDR and HDR-H will provide a persistent 24/7/365 midcourse acquisition, precision tracking, and discrimination capability to counter evolving threats in the Pacific region. The program scope includes facilities construction, radar development, installation, initial operations, and sustainment. MDA is taking a long-term view of LRDR and HDR-H, with planned deployment for the next 40 to 50 years.

Community Impact: Positive impact to the Huntsville community through the creation of new jobs in modeling and simulation, algorithm development, software and hardware. With the addition of HDR-H, new jobs include facility construction.

Requested Actions: ■ Fully fund the President’s budget request for LRDR and HDR-H to ensure the homeland can be defended against evolving threats from the Pacific Region.

■ Advocate for LRDR international sales in support of U.S. Cooperative Defense initiatives.

HYPERSONIC MISSILE DEFENSE

Requested Action: Press for increases to the President’s FY22 budget request for hypersonic defense programs.

NATIONAL TEAM-ENGINEERING (NT-E) National Impact: Private industry has teamed together to support the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in its evolution of the Missile Defense System (MDS) to keep pace with the missile threat to our homeland, deployed forces, and allies. The industry National Team does this through sophisticated modeling and simulation, system engineering, and technical evaluations and assessments for MDA, its various programs and associated tests. The National Team is designed to provide independent technical support outside the purview of any particular program element of the MDS. The current National Team employs a trusted, proven collaboration mechanism among all MDA communities that protects industry proprietary and competition sensitive data allowing rapid development and access to emerging industry technologies and concepts.

Community Impact: Significant National Team work share is done in the North Alabama area across several major and small business employers, supporting about 250 employees.

Requested Action: Support the President’s FY22 Budget Request for MDA National Team funding.

INTEGRATED AIR MISSILE DEFENSE BATTLE COMMAND SYSTEM (IBCS) National Impact: IBCS is the Army’s #1 Air and Missile Defense priority and will fundamentally change our air and missile defense force and capability, maximizing the combination the combination of sensors and shooters in a completely different way than ever before.

IBCS is the cornerstone of the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) modernization program. Designed to connect the force for unified action against evolving threats, IBCS is a net-centric command and control system for the air and missile defense mission. After a successful limited-user test in 2020, the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment approved the program to move into low-rate initial production in January 2021.

Community Impact: Huntsville is the birthplace of IBCS. The program supports a substantial number of industry jobs in the North Alabama area.

Requested Action: Support the President’s Budget request for IBCS to deliver the Army’s #1 Air and Missile Defense priority that will allow us to fight and win against peer competitors.

PATRIOT

National Impact: The U.S. currently cannot defend against many of the hypersonic strike capabilities that our adversaries are rapidly developing. We cannot track them from birth to death; we cannot intercept many of them; and we do not have the command and control capabilities needed to address this class of threat. Due to the rapid evolution of hypersonic threats, Congress has pushed the Department of Defense in several successive budget cycles to accelerate national capabilities to detect and defend against adversary hypersonic weapons, particularly those that hold forward deployed forces at risk.

National Impact: Patriot is the world’s most successful and effective air and missile defense capability and is employed by U.S. forces and 16 allied military partners. Since January of 2015, Patriot has intercepted more than 150 ballistic missiles in combat operations around the world. More than 50 percent of the total U.S. Patriot force is forward deployed, performing defense missions in support of our warfighters and allies. U.S. government estimates show that Patriot will be fielded in the U.S. combat forces beyond 2040. The system employs every fielded and combat proven effector, enabling the system to deploy a mixture of interceptors to defeat current and emerging threats.

Community Impact: Hypersonic defense programs – including space-based sensors, new interceptors, and improved command and control – support hundreds of jobs in the Huntsville area.

Community Impact: Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal are Patriot’s birthplace and home. Approximately 1,200 civilian and government jobs in the Huntsville area are critical to the Patriot program. All pro-

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2021 Federal Issues Book gram actions for U.S. Military and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) are processed through offices on Redstone Arsenal.

has also demonstrated its value abroad in protecting regional territory and could be utilized in the same manner in the U.S.

Requested Actions:

Community Impact: The SM-3 family is assembled in the Huntsville Raytheon Redstone Missile Integration Facility and supports a substantial number of jobs in the north Alabama area, including program management, engineering and manufacturing.

■ Support the President’s Budget Request.

■ Advocate for continued efforts to support international sales.

■ Advocate for Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor and Lower Tier Future Missile modernization efforts.

STANDARD MISSILE 6 (SM-6) National Impact: SM-6 offers the warfighter tremendous versatility with a multi-mission capability, including anti-air warfare, terminal ballistic missile defense, and anti-surface warfare. SM-6 leverages and sustains the 60+ year heritage of the Navy’s premier Standard Missile program with both defensive and offensive capabilities. SM-6 employs an active RF seeker for greater independence from ship illuminator systems, improved threat discrimination and targeting, and high velocity for faster time on target. The Navy and MDA have demonstrated an impressive record of successful flight tests, breaking engagement records for range and interoperability expectations by utilizing sensor systems like the E-2D Hawkeye and F-35 aircraft systems. Demand from international governments has been steadily increasing as new evolving threat sets and operational requirements identify SM-6 as the multi-mission system of choice.

Community Impact: SM-6 All-Up-Round production occurs at a dedicated facility within the Redstone Arsenal and provides hundreds of government and industry jobs in the Huntsville area. Additionally, with new missile configuration developments in progress, production capacity will soon increase.

Requested Actions: ■ Support the President’s Budget Request for the SM-6 and associated missile modifications and improvements.

■ Support production capacity increase for SM-6.

■ Advocate for SM-6 international sales to key allies in support of the U.S. Cooperative Defense initiatives.

STANDARD MISSILE 3 (SM-3 1B AND IIA) National Impact: SM-3 is the most advanced sea/land deployable exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptor and is deployed globally by the U.S. and Japan. The SM-3 Block I was first fielded in 2004, and has had three major spiral upgrades to the current SM-3 Block IB (Threat Upgrade). The SM-3 Block I also served as the foundation for the U.S.-Japan Standard Missile Cooperative Development (SCD) program that produced a longer range and more capable interceptor, the SM-3 Block IIA, which complements the SM-3 Block IB in layered Ballistic Missile Defense. Designed to engage regional Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) and Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs), SM-3 has demonstrated over 40 successful exo-atmospheric engagements and the capability to defend against more challenging threats. In November 2020, the SM-3 Block IIA also conducted the first successful intercept against an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)-representative target. This was a critical milestone for the Aegis BMD SM-3 Block IIA program and a key step in the process of determining its feasibility as part of a layered homeland defense architecture. The sea/land based operational flexibility of the SM-3 and proven test performance allows for rapid deployment and sustained protection against a range of ballistic threats. As the primary interceptor employed by Aegis Ashore, SM-3

Requested Action: Support increased funding for SM-3 Block IIA procurement to meet critical warfighter requirements afloat and ashore and to accelerate the global deployment of the most advanced SM-3.

OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE (O&M) FOR MISSILE DEFENSE National Impact: Maintaining a high-state of operational readiness against tactical and strategic ballistic missile threats will continue to be one of the most critical priorities for the national security of the U.S. and our allies. To ensure the U.S. is able to deter and respond to any and all offensive attacks by adversaries, each missile defense program’s Operations and Maintenance (O&M) budget must be fully-funded to achieve Operational Availability (Ao) requirements within the Missile Defense Agency (e.g. GMD, THAAD, Aegis) and PEO Missiles & Space and the U.S. Army Materiel Command (PATRIOT, CMDS, IBCS). Program-specific Life Cycle Sustainment Plans (LCSPs) must continue to achieve cost-wise readiness using private/ public partnerships between government capabilities and industry to achieve high materiel availability of fielded systems coupled with continuous training and maintainability improvements for soldiers using state-of-the-art technologies (e.g. virtual training, total asset visibility). To remain ready and adaptable to the constantly-changing threat, military operators of missile defense systems and military/ contractor maintainers must be provided a fully-integrated logistics and supply chain which can quickly respond to dynamic threats with materiel changes, technical manual improvements, available parts, and improved training and training devices.

Community Impact: Collectively, several hundred logistics, sustainment, and product support jobs within industry (OEMs, subcontractors, SETA contractors) and government (MDA, PEO MS, AMC, AMCOM) perform item management, maintenance management, training support, and readiness support in the north Alabama area.

Without continued support of missile defense O&M budgets, our fielded weapon systems may not be capable of deterring or responding to attacks against the U.S. due to poor training, inadequate readiness, and lack of spare parts.

Requested Action: Support full-funding for each program’s O&M budget and continue prioritization of high-operational readiness to deter enemy threats against U.S. interests.

■■■ ASSURED POSITION NAVIGATION TIMING The Huntsville based APNT Cross Functional Team continues leading the effort to solve several barriers that exist when attempting to engage targets in an anti-access/area-denial (A2AD), multi-domain, high tempo, near peer environment. The timeline required to decide, detect, deliver, and assess time sensitive targets require revolutionary optimization throughout the entire intelligence and warfighting mission area timelines. This is a critical component of the mission to detect and engage near peer High Value Targets (HVT) in an A2/AD

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2021 Federal Issues Book environment when current intelligence gathering processes are not responsive or possible. The tactical space layer offers a necessary and timely method to allow deep sensing, sensor survivability and HVT “re-visit” rates. The APNT CFT Sensor-to-Shooter (S2S) effort is providing solutions for Intelligence, Fires and Maneuver operations directly supporting U.S. Army Multi-Domain operations in 2028.

These concepts and approaches are being demonstrated and evaluated at the Army’s capstone event – Project Convergence.

National Impact: This deep sensing, target detection/engagement approach will benefit all U.S. Army, Joint, and Mission Partner weapon systems. Particularly, the effects that either: A) rely on a tactical space sensor for target detection, cueing, identification and verification and/or B) that deliver effects from long distances and must optimize the detect/decide timeline in order to meet target engagement timelines. The APNT CFT Sensor to Shooter effort is leading the analysis, experimentation, evaluation and institutionalization of this critical mission enabler.

Community Impact: The APNT CFT is managed from Huntsville, AL. It joins the efforts of and directly enables several other CFTs as well as critical programs of record managed from Huntsville. These programs are Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), Long Range Precisions Fires CFT, G2 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Task Force, Army Tactical Space Layer and the Next Generation Combat Vehicle CFT. Requested Actions: Increase support for the APNT CFT S2S activities. Two specific areas are: ■ Increase and expedite analysis, experimentation, and operational assessments to solve the entire maneuver planning cycle of decide/detect/deliver/assess (D3A) cycle and commander situational awareness and situational understanding of the battlespace.

■ Increase tactical space layer assets, national/tactical/commercial intelligence capabilities and universal ground control capabilities. This will significantly broaden the military usefulness allowing both the strategic, operational and tactical levels exploitation of persistent sensor data.

■■■ COUNTER SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (C-SUAS) The DoD has implemented the 2018 National Security Strategy with Counter UAS (C-UAS) under the authority and responsibility of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Logistics. The Department of the Army is the DoD Executive Agent for C-UAS and is executing this mission through the recently established Joint Counter Small UAS Office (JCO). Small unmanned aircraft being those aircraft up to 1320 lbs. operated at low altitude and are hard to detect by radar. The Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office or RCCTO located at Redstone Arsenal headed by an Army 3-star general has the responsibility for material development in support of the Department of the Army Executive Agent.

National Impact: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones operated by malevolent interest have demonstrated the potential for negative impact on installations and infrastructure of U.S. Allies.

UAS operated with hostile intent have become more prevalent in tactical warfare worldwide and pose a direct threat to homeland

security by attacking vulnerability of DoD and Federal Installations and critical infrastructure. Drone attacks on U.S. allies (Saudi Arabia oil production) and the wide-spread use of drones by Turkey in the Syrian conflict show the increasing use of hostile drones in modern warfare.

Community Impact: 200-300 full time equivalent (FTE) positions located in or supporting Redstone Arsenal activities are linked to C-UAS activity. RCCTO in cooperation with PEO Missiles and Space (PEO M&S), and the Army Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC), integrates the Army’s C-sUAS efforts and those of other Services (Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps) and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The DoD “center of gravity” for C-sUAS material development, system engineering, and systems rapid equipping and deployment is RCCTO. The Secretary of the Army assigned the RCCTO as the materiel and acquisition lead for the Joint Counter – Small UAS Office or JCO. The JCO goal is to align existing and future C-sUAS technology solutions to best address operational needs, while applying resources more efficiently.

Requested Actions: Support C-sUAS resourcing for Department of the Army and C-sUAS activities located at Redstone Arsenal.

Two specific recommendations are: ■ Resource RCCTO in the Material Developer function for the DoD Executive Agent for C-sUAS. Resources would be supporting Defense-wide system capability development, system engineering, and rapid response for Homeland Security to counter potential attacks on DoD, Federal or CONU.S. Infrastructure.

■ Recognize the RCCTO C-sUAS mission as material and acquisition lead to the DoD JCO in the FY22 NDAA. Provide legislative definition for RCCTO as the material developer in support the DoD’s C-sUAS Strategy. JCO performs as the central point for DoD integrating all DoD-wide C-sUAS solutions and aligning C-sUAS technology solutions with DoD and Homeland operational needs. The material developer functions include program synchronization, interoperability and operational suitability, and implementation of DoD best acquisition practices.

■■■ ARMY AVIATION SUPPORT ARMY AVIATION PROGRAMS AND AVIATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY The Army’s ability to apply aviation power remains critical to the execution of the National Defense Strategy and the evolving focus on Multi-Domain Operations. Army Aviation is indispensable in executing these missions both today and into the future. However, in order to ensure operational success over time, a holistic approach to managing the Army Aviation’s combined resources of the Enduring and Future fleets is essential. Efforts to maintain readiness of the enduring aviation platforms/programs must remain funded while still supporting the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Programs (Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), Future Tactical UAS (FUAS)) as one of the six Cross Functional Team (CFT) priorities for the Futures Command and the Army.

In addition, the key to maintaining today’s technological edge into

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2021 Federal Issues Book the future is sustaining the aviation science and technology base.

Investment and support to the Army Aviation Modernization Programs and the S&T pipeline will ensure our global leadership role in complex scientific areas and enable continued migration of new modernized technology into the Army Aviation fleets – a necessary course of action to deliver overmatch capabilities to our combatant commanders.

Community Impact: Alabama is the epicenter of Army Aviation.

There are more than 13,000 jobs in Northern Alabama that directly support the Army Aviation portfolio. The co-location of the Program Executive Office, Aviation (PEOAVN), the Future Vertical Lift Combined Functional Team CFT (FVL CFT), the Redstone Test Center (RTC), the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (CCDC AvMC), and the Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at Redstone Arsenal allows for the focused application of resources to maintain leadership in the Aviation arena.

The full lifecycle from S&T through fleet sustainment of Army Aviation assets is managed at Redstone Arsenal. Resourcing these commands is critical for the long-term sustainment of the Army Aviation mission and for continued community growth.

Requested Actions: ■ Support the continued full funding of the Enduring Fleet of combat and support aircraft in production or already deployed to Active, Guard, and Reserve missions. Simultaneously resource the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team (FVL CFT).

Funding of the Enduring & Future Aviation programs assures priority readiness for aircraft conducting combat operations today while supporting the Army’s critical future priorities.

■ Increase and support Aviation S&T and Research & Development (R&D) funding to a level that allows the Army to keep the enduring fleet technologically relevant as well as investing in Future Vertical Lift requirements. We cannot concede our Nation’s position in the world as the leader in Aviation science and technology for rotary wing and unmanned aviation systems.

APACHE HELICOPTERS The AH-64E Apache is the Army’s newest attack helicopter. The Apache also is one of the U.S.’s best platforms for allied interoperability and combat capability. The Army awarded a multi-Year contract for AH-64E production to the Boeing Company in March 2017.

The five-year contract for up to 450 aircraft and additional Foreign Military Sales (FMS) aircraft has a base value of $3.1B with a potential value of $10B. The multi-year contract saves the Army $350M and provides stability to the program and industry partners through 2021.

The Apache is one of Army Aviation’s primary combat platforms – essential to the DoD National Defense Strategy. In 2020, the Apache Project Office exercised the base 48 U.S.G remanufactured (Reman) aircraft for $560M (advanced procurement and annual funding combined). Additionally, the Apache Project Office executed two contract options valued at over $420.9M for an additional 25 FMS AH64E New Build aircraft and one contract option valued at $11.7M for an additional one U.S.G AH-64E Reman aircraft. The Apache Project Office is developing a multi-Year 2 contract for award in February 2021 that will complete U.S. production. Congress should support the multi-year 2 contract for the Apache to realize similar benefits as the first multi-year contract and demonstrate stability for our FMS customers.

The International Apache Project Office has an active Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, with 16 countries and approximately 580 aircraft across the globe with the possibility of adding six additional countries as FMS cases in the near future. The office is currently delivering aircraft to two international allies and will begin upgrading two additional allies’ AH-64 fleet. In May 2018, the Department of Army adjusted the Army Acquisition Objective from 767 to 812 AH64E aircraft with an Army Procurement Objective of 791 aircraft.

The Apache Project Office, located at Redstone Arsenal, has completed fielding of 11 units as of December 2020. The 1-6 Heavy Attack Reconnaissance Squadron at Fort Riley, Kansas, received Version 4.1 technology insertions, which includes upgraded Mission Processor (MP) software to support the addition of Manned Unmanned Teaming Expanded (MUMT-X), and Air to Air to Ground Expanded (AAGX) which provides for increased situational awareness when engaged in joint operations with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). 1-229 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, received the first Version 6 aircraft in September 2020. Version 6 technology insertions add increased interoperability (Link 16, UAS), improved targeting, increased situational awareness, Cognitive Decision Aiding, Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN), Modernized Day Side Assembly, MUMTX, AAGX, Upper Receiver Expanded (URX), Gen III Day Sensor Assembly, image blending, Multi-Mode Laser, Fire Control Radar (FCR) enhancements, embedded diagnostics, and cyber security. These advanced tools will provide commanders greater situational awareness, lethality, and flexibility across the battlefield. The latest units fielded are the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (1-82nd ARB and 1-17th Air Cavalry Squadron) and the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (U.S.AACE) at Fort Rucker, Ala. National Impact: The AH-64E brings substantially improved operational capability to the commander compared to earlier variants.

The Apache multi-year contract saves over $350M to the American taxpayer, ensuring program stability and providing predictability for the Apache industry team.

Community Impact: All of the life cycle management and many of the support modifications, spares, and other services are performed by government and industry partners in Alabama. This directly impacts more than 600 Government and contractor positions.

Requested Action: Continue to support the Army’s Apache Helicopter modernization and procurement objectives, including the second multi-year Contract and Apache modernization.

UTILITY HELICOPTERS The Utility Helicopters Project Office (UHPO) provides life cycle management for the largest utility helicopter fleet in the DoD and the most widely produced rotary wing military aircraft in the world.

This includes 2,135 UH-60L/M/V Black Hawk and 478 UH-72 Lakota Light Utility Helicopters with various Mission Equipment Packages (MEPs). The UH-60M remains in production through 2027 and a new contract was awarded this year for the production of up to 18 new UH-72B Lakota aircraft; an enhanced version of the UH72A. We are divesting the OH-58 Kiowa, TH-67 Creek and UH-60A Black Hawk legacy fleets. The Utility Project Office also supports the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Special Operations forces, Other Government Agencies and our Allies. The UHPO International Product Office has delivered 510 UH-60s and 6 UH-72s aircraft and continues to provide support through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. The Project Office manages more than $18B annually in helicopter procurement, support services and foreign

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2021 Federal Issues Book military sales contracts. The UH-60M is the “Workhorse” of the Army Aviation fleet and will be a key component through 2054.

To date, the Black Hawk fleet has 1.93M combat hours (10.3M total fleet hours) and maintains an average maintenance availability rate of 83 percent. While the Army continues to produce UH-60V aircraft at Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), it is ramping up pilot training in parallel in preparation for the First Unit Equipped (FUE). With the fully digitized UH-60V cockpit, Army aviation will be able to optimize training between the UH-60M and UH-60V and reduce life cycle costs while offering new capabilities to the fleet.

The UH-72 Lakota is a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) product supported through lifecycle Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) operating multiple MEPs supporting the Army’s Initial Entry Rotor Wing (IERW) flight training, Combat Training Centers (CTCs) and the Army National Guard (ARNG).

National Impact: The Black Hawk fleet is the DoD’s most versatile Utility Helicopter fleet, providing combat, combat support, and combat service support. The force provides commanders with the mobility and agility to act decisively inside the enemy’s decision cycle, while supporting Multi-Domain Operations.

Community Impact: All of the life cycle management and many of the support modifications, spares, and services are performed and managed by government and industry partners in Alabama. The Army Utility Helicopter program directly impacts more than 500 Government and contractor positions.

Requested Action: Support the Army’s Utility Helicopter modernization and procurement objectives, including the current MY9 UH-60M multi-year production contract, follow-on MY10 contract, UH-60V program and the UH-72A program.

CARGO HELICOPTERS The U.S. Army completed unit fielding of the CH-47F Block I aircraft in December 2019 and is awaiting delivery of its final six aircraft.

Over the last 13 years, the Cargo Helicopter Project Office delivered and fielded all of its CH-47F aircraft on time across all Chinook units in the Active Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. The Block I aircraft complies with joint digital connectivity requirements while incorporating key modifications such as a machined airframe, Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS), enhanced air transportability, Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS), and an Extended Range Fuel System II. The Chinook has exceeded expectations by superbly performing a multitude of different combat and training missions throughout the world. As the aircraft of choice in austere environments, the CH-47F remains highly attractive to several international partners. Currently, nineteen international partners operate almost four hundred CH-47s each day.

While U.S. Army procurement of the CH-47F Block I platform concludes, the Project Office continues to execute the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the CH-47F Block II program.

The major focus of the Block II program is the continued long-term relevance of the Chinook fleet with significant improvements in aircraft capability, reliability, and maintainability. This past November, CH-47F Block II successfully completed its first test flight in the complete Block II baseline configuration which included the Improved Drive Train, Improved Rotor System and Advanced Chinook Rotor Blade. This incremental airframe modernization effort will advance the maximum gross weight of the Army’s heavy lift capability; this time from 50,000 lbs to 54,000 lbs. Twenty-four production MH-47G Block II aircraft, in support of Special Operations Command (SOCOM), are on contract and will receive critical Block

II technologies following full qualification in 2021.

National Impact: The Chinook fleet provides the Army with the only heavy lift combat, combat support, and combat service aviation support.

Community Impact: All of the life cycle management and many of the support modifications, spares or services are performed/managed by firms in Alabama. This directly impacts more than 450 Government and contractor positions.

Requested Action: Support the Army’s Cargo Helicopter modernization and procurement objectives.

AVIATION TURBINE ENGINES (ATE) The Aviation Turbine Engines (ATE) Project Office provides central management of the Army’s rotary wing turbine engine and electrical power capability to provide Army Aviation with affordable and reliable solutions; the ATE Project Office manages the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), an Electrical Power Systems (EPS) cell, and the current T700 and T55 engine programs. As one of Army Aviation’s top modernization priorities, the ITEP is a critical component to the Future Vertical Lift’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and will replace the T700 family of engines for the Black Hawk and Apache fleets. The ITEP is currently in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase of acquisition following a successful Milestone B on 29 January 2019. The Army Contracting Command, in support of ITEP, awarded an Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract valued at $519M to General Electric (GE) Aviation on 1 February 2019 to design, develop, and deliver the T901-GE-900 engine. The T901 is a state-of-the-art 3,000 shp class engine that will support Multi-Domain operations by: delivering world-wide performance at 6000 foot/95 degree environments; providing significant fuel savings and power enhancement over the current T700-GE-701D engine; offering a modular design to enable field level repair; and lowering both operation and sustainment costs. The ITEP successfully completed the Critical Design Review milestone in 4QTR FY2020 in a virtual environment ahead of schedule despite unprecedented challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ITEP is preparing for the First Engine to Test in 4QTR FY2021 which will be followed by flight testing in FY2023.

The T700 engine, manufactured by GE-Aviation, has been a powerhouse for Army Aviation fleets since 1978 with T700 variants having accumulated over 50M flight hours, six major performance upgrades, and integration into multiple premier helicopter platforms.

This year the T700/T55 Product Office oversaw initiation of a five year international repair and overhaul program, completed two successful Component Improvement Program (CIP) events, managed fielding of the P09 Enhanced Digital Engine Control Units (EDECU), and continued pursuing an enhanced durability Stage 1 Blisk effort.

With 273 engines delivered this year, the T700 engine program continues to be the most reliable and widely used turbine engine in military aircraft.

In 2020, the T55 engine program reached a landmark of nearly 12M hours of operation during its six decades of service. The T55 engine, manufactured by Honeywell, provides the power behind the Chinook CH-47F and MH-47G helicopters as Army Aviation’s enduring heavy lift platform. This year, the T55 Engine program completed a successful virtual T55 Program Management Review (PMR) event.

The Electrical Power Systems (EPS) effort was designated a Tier Two Modernization Priority in 2020 and is conducting early research to inform requirements development, pursuing contracting avenues, and

2021 Federal Issues Book initiating efforts in the areas of Architecture Modeling and Development, Power Generation, Power and Thermal Management, Power Electronics, and Energy Storage solutions. The EPS team also monitors evolving hybrid propulsion and electrical power technologies, collaborates with More Electric Aircraft (MEA) projects, seeks airworthy Supplementary Power Unit (SPU) and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) technology, and is pursuing a Common Aviation Battery. By utilizing the enduring fleet platforms as technology incubators for improvements to Power Generation, Power and Thermal Management, Power Electronics, and Energy Storage, the EPS team can streamline FVL requirements development process and future common technology integration while reducing risks in the acquisition process. The resulting products from these efforts will have the added benefit of being common systems capable of being integrated into both the FVL and enduring fleets. In 2020, the EPS Team has made significant progress in early research and architectural development efforts and continues to work closely with FVL to support developing EPS requirements in the FARA and FLRAA platforms. As part of the continued collaboration with Industry, the EPS team hosted a successful virtual Industry Day in May 2020 with more than a dozen companies in attendance, and the event resulted in several follow-on collaboration efforts. The team has also made significant progress toward developing a Common Aviation Battery which will be the first of the EPS initiatives to directly inform FVL requirements and refine common aviation battery requirements. The Common Aviation Battery effort completed Risk Reduction Ballistic Testing in 3QFY20 and is beginning kickoff events with vendors.

National Impact: As one of Army Aviation’s top modernization priorities, the ITEP’s T901 will regain lost capability and provide affordable, reliable power to support Army Aviation’s role in Multi-Domain Operations. The development of next-generation electrical power systems will reduce the growing power capability gap, provide holistic opportunities for superior performance against nearpeer threats in Multi-Domain Operations, and facilitate maturation of emerging technologies.

Community Impact: All of the developmental and life cycle management efforts are performed in Alabama by government and Industry partners. This directly impacts more than 180 government and contractor positions.

Requested Action: Continue to support the Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Program and the emerging Electrical Power Systems initiatives.

FUTURE ATTACK RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT (FARA) The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) is the Army’s overall # 3 modernization priority and the Army’s # 1 Future Vertical Lift modernization priority. FARA is an Army led initiative to design, develop, and deliver the preeminent attack reconnaissance aircraft for Army Combat Aviation Brigades and the Joint Force enabling U.S. dominance on the Multi-Domain battlefield. The FARA will provide the Army with increased capabilities including essential improvements in speed, range, agility and endurance to provide capability and flexibility against unknown and unknowable threats in 2030 and beyond. FARA is the Army’s response to the lack of critical capability to conduct armed reconnaissance, light attack, and security in operations against peer and near-peer adversaries with improved stand-off and lethality. The FARA weapon system will provide significantly increased speed and range over the previously used OH-58 and provide Combatant Commanders with greatly increased tactical, operational, and strategic advantage. FARA will improve the Army’s reach, lethality, survivability, and situational awareness allowing Army

page 11 Aviation and the Joint Force the freedom of maneuver to operate on a highly contested battlefield and fulfill the critical armed reconnaissance capability gap that exists in our formations today.

The Army has committed to a Competitive Prototyping (CP) effort as the first phase in the full development and fielding of the FARA Weapons System by 2030. The approach to FARA CP is to demonstrate a limited set of critical mandatory requirements and encourage industry to provide innovative solutions. The Army awarded initial design contracts to five performers in April 2019 and down selected to two in March 2020. The selected CP Performers will conduct an aircraft flight demonstration in FY23 to showcase progress toward critical design requirements.

National Impact: Emerging peer/near-peer Anti Access/Anti Denial, Integrated Air Defense, and long-range effects threaten the advantage Army Aviation has enjoyed over 50 years. FARA investment enables rapid design, integration and fielding of emerging technological advancements, effectively increasing DoD’s combat power and our Nation’s competitive advantage.

Community Impact: Alabama is the epicenter of Army Aviation with the full lifecycle of Army Aviation assets managed at Redstone Arsenal. Under the purview of the Army Futures Command Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team, the Aviation Development Directorate is leading the FARA CP effort. Concurrently, the Army chartered the FARA Project Management Office under the Program Executive Office, Aviation in July 2019. The FARA program staffing will add up to 300 professional series jobs in Alabama over the next three years. FARA development will also advance critical technologies improving the skills and expertise of the supporting workforce in the state of Alabama and the Tennessee Valley. Advances in Model Based Systems Engineering, Modular Open Systems Approach and Cyber Security implementation will further enhance critical technical capabilities throughout the Redstone Arsenal Community.

Requested Action: Support and increase FARA funding required to advance aviation technology and prepare our Army for the future fight.

FUTURE LONG RANGE ASSAULT AIRCRAFT (FLRAA) The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Capability Set Three (CS3), is a pre-Major Defense Acquisition Program (ACAT 1C) that will develop and field the next generation of affordable vertical lift tactical assault / utility aircraft for the Army.

FLRAA is one of the five capability sets that falls under the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) family of systems, which is one of the Army’s six modernization priorities. FLRAA will enable multi-domain operations (MDO) with increased speed, reach, and a more survivable tactical assault and MEDEVAC capability. FLRAA is an Army program with multi-service interests and applicability, which focuses on restoring the U.S. asymmetric vertical lift dominance with radical improvements in speed, range, agility, and endurance to provide capability and flexibility to an unknown and unknowable threat.

Building a new aircraft from the ground up in a clean sheet design is part of the strategic effort to harness the best new technologies, while allowing for platform upgrades as new technologies emerge. By integrating systems into a common architecture, emerging technology can be spiraled in at a faster rate and reduced costs. In 2019, Army leadership provided guidance and funding realignment to accelerate the development of FLRAA to support a First Unit Equipped (FUE) in FY30. By extending the Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction (CD&RR), the FLRAA Project Office continues to enable the Army to have multiple opportunities to optimize the requirements prior to

2021 Federal Issues Book entering the design, build, and test of the program of record weapons system.

FLRAA will utilize a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), informed by government and industry science and technology development efforts and the Army’s Joint Multi Role (JMR) Technology Demonstration (TD) Program.

FLRAA is also utilizing an Architecture Collaboration Working Group (ACWG) to help inform the architecture requirements for FLRAA. The ACWG is a volunteer group of professionals from the Government, academia and industry providing direct feedback on the FLRAA Architecture Framework (FAF) ability to achieve MOSA objectives. The ACWG is reducing development time as Government personnel and industry are having meaningful discussions on the digital backbone, component definitions, cybersecurity, air worthiness, safety, advanced teaming, and an architecture centric virtual integration processes.

FLRAA continues to execute CD&RR Phase I through March 2021, which focuses on transitioning from demonstrators to weapons systems through design and requirements optimization. CD&RR is delivering updated designs to support cost-informed decisions on requirements, setting an early foundation for a successful program.

The outcome of CD&RR Phase I will be optimal designs and requirements that balance performance with lifecycle affordability.

FLRAA is currently executing plans for CD&RR Phase II with an agreement award in March 2021 to the two CD&RR Phase I vendors in a digital engineering environment. The Phase II competitive agreements will result in updated designs and requirements to the subsystem and allocated baseline level, to achieve a preliminary design. This effort lays a strong foundation for a competitive FARbased contract award to a single vendor in 2022 to execute the formal Program of Record. These deliberate steps set the course for the first Army unit to receive these new aircraft by 2030 by allowing the Army to execute risk reduction and preliminary design activities, seamlessly transition into detailed design phase, and initiate production without interruption.

National Impact: Emerging peer/near peer Anti Access/Anti Denial, Integrated Air Defense, and long-range effects threaten the advantage Army Aviation has enjoyed over 50 years. To regain vertical lift dominance, the Army must innovate new capabilities, and invest in FVL. Designing and integrating the technological advancements not only increases the DoD’s combat power but also maintains our Nation’s position of leadership.

Community Impact: Alabama is the epicenter of Army Aviation with the full lifecycle of Army Aviation assets managed at Redstone Arsenal. The decision by the U.S. Army to stand up the Cross Functional Team Future Vertical Lift; co-located with the Program Executive Office (PEO), Aviation, Redstone Test Center, the Combat Capabilities Development Command, the Aviation and Missile Command, and supporting industry accounts for thousands of jobs and reinforces the continued and future impact of Army Aviation on the community.

Requested Action: Continue the strong advocacy and support for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft. The upfront investment of funding reduces schedule risk, promotes competition, and ensures long term affordability.

FIXED WING AIRCRAFT The Fixed Wing Project Office centrally manages the Army’s fleet of manned fixed wing aircraft. Army fixed wing aviation units serve as intelligence and electronic warfare assets, provide timely move-

page 12 ment of key personnel to critical locations throughout the theater of operations and support worldwide peacetime contingencies and humanitarian relief efforts. The fleet consists of 282 aircraft comprised of five missions, 12 designs and 16 series deployed to 52 states/territories and 16 countries. All Army fixed wing aircraft are commercial derivative aircraft and are divided into two categories: Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (AISR) aircraft) and Transport Aircraft.

National Impact: The manned Special Electronic Mission Aircraft provide sensor capabilities to combatant commanders and Soldiers in austere environments. These sensors have the ability to detect, locate, classify, identify and track surface targets with a high degree of timeliness and accuracy both day and night and in nearly all weather conditions. The manned platforms offer a certain advantage to unmanned platforms because they have more capacity for payloads, ultimately offering broader sensor capabilities. On manned aircraft, onboard operators control the payloads with multi-function workstations where the intelligence collected can be analyzed and disseminated in real time as well as recorded for post-mission analysis. The manned AISR aircraft can operate in environments compromised by satellite communications interruptions and the jamming of electronic communications signals.

The Army’s first AISR jet, the Airborne Reconnaissance Targeting Exploitation Mission - Intelligence System (ARTEMIS), was deployed successfully in July 2020 to the PACOM area of responsibility (AOR) and redeployed in September 2020 to the EUCOM AOR. In December 2020, ARTEMIS redeployed stateside for upgrades. ARTEMIS allows the Army to conduct AISR missions from a greater stand-off distance, with more precision and provide real-time threat awareness and targeting across the battlespace.

ARTEMIS can fly day and night, in near all-weather conditions with the capability of operating up to 40,000 feet. ARTEMIS meets other requirements for the Multi-Domain Sensing System/Multi-Domain Operations (MDSS/MDO) such as sufficient capacity to operate all of the sensor suites simultaneously, have 10 hours of unfueled flight endurance and is self-sustainable should there be limited ground support at airfields. The success of ARTEMIS has led to the development of a follow-on program, the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES). HADES is a sensor suite combining a powerful ground-scanning radar and sensitive electronic intelligence receivers. HADES would also use a jet for its platform to enable for deep sensing up to 40,000 feet with the ability to scan hundreds of miles in multiple directions.

Manned Transport Aircraft provide long-range inter-theater, intra-theater and garrison airlift support to Operational Commanders in order to meet the time, place or mission sensitive movement of personnel, cargo and equipment throughout an area of operations. The transport aircraft fleet is comprised of 153 fixed wing aircraft (49 Active, 57 Guard and 47 Reserve) at 75 operating bases worldwide (65 CONU.S. and 10 OCONU.S.). Some of these aircraft transported PPE throughout the country during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Community Impact: Defense contractors in the local area provide modifications to the airframes, taking them from commercial-off-theshelf aircraft to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission capable aircraft; area defense contractors also modify equipment on aircraft in the transport fleet. The Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System – Enhanced (EMARSS-E), an AISR aircraft, is being modified by two area defense contractors: L3 Harris and Sierra Nevada Corporation. The work is being done locally in Meridianville, AL. Another area company, Yulista, is modi-

2021 Federal Issues Book fying 28 UC-35 transport aircraft with updated avionics equipment in Meridianville, AL. In addition to working with local area defense contractors, the Fixed Wing Project Office also relies on assets located at Redstone Arsenal, AL such as the Redstone Test Center where newly modified aircraft undergo testing for avionics and airworthiness.

The Fixed Wing Project Office employees 207 full-time personnel at Redstone Arsenal, AL who provide life cycle management for AISR aircraft such as Airborne Reconnaissance Low – Enhanced (ARL-E), Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS), Guardrail Common Sensor and quick reaction capability aircraft such as Saturn Arch and Night Eagle.

Requested Action: Continued support for the funding of aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance manned aircraft programs of record; also request support of additional manned aircraft programs to fill gaps within Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Project Management Office revolutionizes our Nation’s warfighting operations through the acquisition and support of advanced UAS providing operational commanders overmatching maneuver, fires, intelligence, communications, force protection, sustainment, and mission command capabilities. Army UAS are fundamental to the success of Army operations having flown more than 3.1M flight hours in direct support.

Army UAS perform myriad functions around-the-clock including Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), communications relay, and target attack with lethal and non-lethal effects. The Army’s UAS fleet consists of over 7,000 small (tactical), medium (operational), and large (strategic) airframes such as the AeroVironment RQ-11B Raven, Textron RQ-7B Shadow, and the General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle. New developmental systems and current fleet modernization efforts focus on improving the operational availability, reach, lethality, and survivability necessary to support Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) on future battlefields. The project office collaborates with the Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team in the development of Future Tactical UAS, Air Launched Effects, optionally manned capabilities in both new and existing aircraft fleets, and Universal Robotic Control.

National Impact: Army UAS are critical national security assets that accomplish high risk/high reward missions that either cannot be accomplished by manned systems or are too dangerous to risk America’s military personnel. Accordingly, Army UAS are aligned to all six Army Modernization priorities to ensure victory in a MDO environment.

Community Impact: The Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Management Office provides an estimated $92M per year impact on the North Alabama economy through employment for approximately 420 Department of the Army Civilians and Contractors and support contracts with local vendors.

Requested Action: Champion program resourcing and community development supporting this professional workforce responsible for the important research, development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of the Army’s Unmanned Aircraft enduring and future fleet.

AVIATION MISSION SYSTEMS & ARCHITECTURE The Aviation Mission Systems and Architecture (AMSA) Project Office designs, develops, and delivers advanced aviation technologies

page 13 that enable the Aviation Enterprise to operate in a Multi-Domain Battlefield. AMSA Project Office leads and directs the efforts of more than 300 military and civilian personnel with an annual budget of over $414M. AMSA Project Office comprises four Product Offices that manage 49 distinct product lines. The Aviation Architecture & Environment Exploitation Product Office (A2E2) is developing the capability to enable approaches, landing, and takeoff for rotary-wing aircraft operations in degraded visual environments. A2E2 is developing an open system architecture that enables the rapid insertion of capabilities into Army Aviation operations without requiring lengthy, costly, and out-of-sync software updates to flight mission computers; resulting in affordable, synchronized integration and fielding of Aviation capabilities required for the Multi-Domain Battlefield. The Assured Airspace Access Product Office (A3S) manages Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT), surveillance for the Army Aviation Fleet, and tactical and fixed base air traffic control equipment to function in both the national airspace and provide battlefield airspace management in support of Multi-Domain Operations. The Aerial Communications and Mission Command Product Office (ACMC) manages the complete suite of mission essential communications, information systems, mission planning, situational awareness, interoperability, and networking capabilities for the Army Aviation Fleet. The Aviation Ground Support Equipment Product Office (AGSE) manages all common tools, ground support equipment, and shop sets utilized within Army Aviation as well as serving as the Army Aviation’s Central Tool Manager. Current actions to support targeted readiness include the development of the Mission Systems Digital Backbone utilizing Aviation Mission Common Server, Air to Ground Network Radio, A-PNT capabilities, the Next Generation Aviation Ground Power Unit, upgrades to the Air Traffic Control Systems, hardware agnostic Aviation Mission Planning System, and Degraded Visual Environment System.

National Impact: AMSA Project Office conducted over 10,000 fieldings in fiscal year 2020. AMSA Project Office products affect every U.S. Army Aviation platform and Aviation Soldier, allowing them to move, shoot, and communicate on the Multi-Domain Battlefield.

AMSA technologies support Commanders’ abilities to make optimal operational decisions associated with air-to-ground interoperability and convergence with Mission Command. The Degraded Visual Environment System is being developed for a limited number Black Hawk Helicopters. This will inform the Environment Exploitation System program for application on additional Combat Aviation Brigade aircraft, which will allow Commanders to deploy aviation assets in all environments to support Multi-Domain Operations.

Community Impact: The life cycle management and many of the support modifications, spares, or services are performed and managed by Aviation Mission Systems and Architecture Project Office government, contactor, and industry partners in the North Alabama area. This directly affects more than 300 Government and contractor positions. Along with these positions, AMSA Project Office has a direct impact on other key stakeholders in North Alabama. These include U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center; Systems, Simulation, Software, and Integration Directorate; Aviation Engineering Directorate; Prototyping Integration Facility; and U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Aviation Logistics Center and Logistics Support Facility.

Requested Action: Support the AMSA Project Office mission by increasing funding to the level which enables target readiness and procurement efforts across all U.S. Army Aviation platforms, including Aviation Mission Common Server and Degraded Visual Environment System.

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2021 Federal Issues Book

MULTINATIONAL AVIATION SPECIAL PROJECT OFFICE The Multinational Aviation Special Project Office (MASPO) is the Department of Defense (DoD) and Army juggernaut for international delivery and sustainment of non-Program of Record rotorcraft.

In this role, MASPO directly supports the Secretary of Defense’s priority to strengthen alliances and attract new partners as well as the Army’s Multi-Domain Operations doctrine. To this end, MASPO delivered over 90 aircraft to our Nation’s international partners throughout 2019. MASPO’s global contributions have been recognized by the prestigious selection as the Army’s Project Management Office of the Year for 2018. In addition, in 2020, MASPO was competitively selected as the winner of the U.S. Army Operational Analysis Award.

The MASPO mission is to develop, deliver, and support non-Program of Record rotary wing aircraft for the DoD, allied countries, or as directed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Through the fulfillment of this mission, MASPO directly supports strategic competition by building relationships with the many allies that have Combatant Command (CCMD) endorsed rotary wing requirements, yet cannot afford the superlative UH-60, AH-64, CH-47, and Future Vertical Lift platforms due to economic realities. The second and third order effects of these relationships have operational and strategic impacts in their regions and for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).

The building and supporting of sufficiently armed and trained allies serve as a deterrent to conflict.

Additionally, allies organized, trained, and equipped with affordable U.S. industry-based aviation assets significantly increases strategic aviation alliances and increasingly surrounds and isolates peer and near-peer competitors. MASPO’s international involvement provides deterrence forward, sets the conditions for the fight, augments U.S. forces, and supports and safeguards U.S. interests abroad. The Multinational Aviation Special Project Office serves as a world-wide ambassador for the United States by developing, delivering, and supporting non-Program of Record rotary wing aircraft.

Whether it be through the sale of non-Program of Record aircraft, excess defense articles, militarized versions of commercial aircraft, or the sustainment of such assets, MASPO provides cost effective and affordable aviation capabilities meeting CCMD priorities and building international partnerships in the process.

Empowered by the office of the Secretary of Defense, each of MASPO’s aircraft deliveries, hardware modifications, and enhancements enable the warfighting capabilities of our international partners and solidifies strategic relationships. Throughout these strategic interactions, MASPO contributes to the defense of the United States, our allies, and promotes U.S. military and industrial interests worldwide.

National Impact: MASPO’s international efforts create productive relationships world-wide and promote the strategic interests of the United States.

Community Impact: MASPO personnel are deployed around the world and serve as aviation representatives for Redstone Arsenal.

International representatives from across the globe visit MASPO and the local community on a regular basis. The work performed directly impacts more than 160 Government and contractor positions who live in the local community.

Requested Action: Continue to support and advocate for MASPO as it develops, delivers and supports affordable, non-Program of Record rotary wing aircraft for our international partners.

AVIATION S&T Army Aviators executed more than 7.5M flight hours in multiple theaters of operation performing critical missions for combat commanders in the last 16 years. Army Aviation is recognized as an indispensable capability across the spectrum of warfare, from major combat operations to Homeland Defense. Army Aviation is the decisive factor that ground commanders not only demand, but rely upon to provide unmatched speed, mobility, and flexibility. Threats continue to evolve. Army Aviation must maintain its technological edge to assure the Army’s vertical lift capability into the future.

Fourteen years of increased usage has shortened aircraft lifespans and increased support costs, yet no new combat helicopter has entered service in nearly 30 years, and all three active production lines are scheduled to shut down within 15 years. Working with the Aviation Materiel Enterprise, including industry partners, Program Executive Office (PEO), Aviation is procuring replacement aircraft for those lost in combat and modernizing the current existing platforms, while supporting the warfighter on the ground around the world.

Simultaneously, it is endeavoring to stay ahead of evolving requirements to transform and meet the Soldier’s needs to fight terrorism, perform peace keeping missions, or fight a comparable foe, within a fiscally constrained environment. Reduced budgets have reduced Army Aviation’s total obligation authority for modernization and acquisition. Due to an uncertain international security environment, we must act deliberately and rapidly to meet Army and Aviation requirements.

The complexity of aviation problems is extremely challenging and demands the full attention and cooperation of senior leaders throughout the Army, DoD, and Congress. In the context of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), Army Aviation must look at capabilities at the Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) level versus individual platforms. Additionally we must continue to make sure our Enduring Fleet is relevant by inserting the technologies that provide the capabilities to compete in MDO. This must occur at the same time as we are developing and fielding the next generation of Future Vertical Lift aircraft, Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and Future Attack/Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), in response to the Army modernization priorities. The Future and Enduring Fleet must be interoperable and survivable in an MDO environment. It is imperative that Army Aviation has the resources to integrate, test, and assess the technologies being transitioned from S&T that enables the required capabilities. Your continued leadership in support of solving holistic Army Aviation challenges has never been more necessary or essential.

Requested Actions: ■ Maintain and support funding levels for Aviation S&T to assure timely technology maturation for FVL’s manned and unmanned systems and provides the technology that keeps the Enduring Fleet relevant.

■ Increase and support Aviation 6.4 funding at a level that allows the Army to transition the technologies that will keep the Enduring Fleet technologically relevant and enable the prototyping necessary to evaluate the future capabilities required in the Future Fleet.

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2021 Federal Issues Book BIOSCIENCES Through collaborative and individual efforts by private companies, universities and research institutions, North Alabama plays a major role in advancing the United States’ position as the world leader in the biosciences. Alabama’s federal delegation has prioritized the biosciences industry due to the positive health, agricultural and economic impacts, for which the Chamber is grateful. Through the support of Alabama’s federal delegation, the entities comprising the biosciences sector have made significant strides in diagnostics, therapeutics, genomic data analysis and security, crop selection and yields, entrepreneurship, and STEM education and workforce. This support, accompanied by increased research and industry collaboration, has enabled moving discoveries to applications more quickly and more often than ever before.

Over the past year, the global pandemic has illustrated the need for not only maintaining current levels of support but for increases in many of these areas. In many regions of the state, academia, the private sector and non-profit research institutions have contributed greatly in the battle against COVID-19. In Madison County, numerous biotech companies, colleges and universities and health care providers have come together to join forces in the fight against the pandemic. For example, on the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology campus alone, the non-profit scientists and the biotech companies, employing hundreds from North Alabama are fully engaged in this battle. These people are working in areas of public health, diagnostic testing, therapeutics, vaccines, data delivery and research on the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

National Impact: The work performed in Madison County has impact far beyond the state’s borders. In the last year, the entities working in the multifaceted biosciences sector have provided: over 1M COVID-19 diagnostic tests to patients across the country; rapid genomic testing for NICU patients; materials for the development and production of COVID-19 therapeutics; actionable genomic information for a prime bioenergy crop; genomic analysis from SARS-CoV-2 samples to the CDC to better understand transmission of the virus; virtual opportunities for students, teachers and the public to learn about the global pandemic, breakthroughs in cancer and neurodegenerative disease research, and gene editing.

Community Impact: The biosciences sector strengthens and diversifies the region’s economy. Over the past two years, there has been an approximate $500M economic impact as a result of direct and collaborative work between private biotech companies, non-profit research organizations and academia. Hundreds of jobs have been created with additional job growth on the near horizon. Specific to the global pandemic, there is also an increased sense of community pride resulting from the contributions of the people of Madison County in the fight against COVID-19.

Requested Actions: ■ Support an increase in basic research funding support for the National Institutes of Health, specifically the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Mental Health; the Department of Energy, specifically the Office of Science/Joint Genome Institute; the Department of Agriculture, specifically the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense.

■ Ensure priority is given to collaborative efforts between the

public and private sector. Emphasis should be given to efforts advancing the generation, analysis, storage and security of genomic data in human health and agriculture areas.

■ Support current and planned efforts to combat the global pandemic. These include resources for vaccine distribution; to speed the development of new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines; to increase coordination between governmental and private organizations; and to assist businesses and areas of state and local governments that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

■■■ INFRASTRUCTURE ■ I-565 to I-65: The Huntsville/Madison County Community thanks the federal delegation for its efforts to facilitate expansion of I-565 to I-65. This has been a top priority for the community as new jobs and investment have come on line and will continue to come on line over the next several years. Current projects under construction include improvements from County Line Road to I-65 and the Wall Triana Boulevard/I-565 Interchange. Additional funding is needed to complete the project, with the widening to six lanes of I-565 from Wall Triana Boulevard to County Line Road.

■ U.S. 72 East (Corridor V): U.S. Highway 72 East will provide an extension of Interstate 565 to include service roads and interchanges at Moores Mill Road and Shields Road consisting of approximately 2.3 miles of I-565 extension. In 2015 one additional lane westbound from Shields Road and one additional northbound turn lane at Moores Mill Road were added as a temporary fix; however, no improvements were made eastbound. New Developments occurring along Moores Mill Road will cause further congestion along this corridor.

■ I-565 Interchange with Highway 231: This interchange serves approx. 110,000 vehicles per day through the center of the region. All ramps are at functional failure in all directions presenting a safety issue. The City of Huntsville has funded and completed an assessment and provided three (3) concept alternatives to ALDOT for approval. Once given approval, the project will be ready for construction.

■ Northern Bypass (SR 255) Extension from U.S. Highway 231/431 to Winchester Road (CR-65): Extension of Northern Bypass (SR 255) for approximately three miles of new four lane divided limited access highway between Memorial Parkway (U.S. Highway 231/431) to Winchester Road (CR 65). Corridor study for this next phase consisted of U.S. 231/431 to U.S. Highway 72 East which was started in 2011. Due to the extensive amount of time that has lapsed regarding the Environmental Assessment (EA), a revised corridor study is required due to multiple developments in conflict with the previously studied alignment. Our focus is on completing the EA so we can separate the project into phases to move forward on the next phase of the project that will connect the Northern Bypass (SR 255) to Winchester Road (CR 65) which is currently being widened to a five-lane roadway. Upon completion of this next phase, full connectivity via a bypass will be provided to the northern half of the City consisting of 18 miles of limited access highway (SR 255) between Interstate 565, and Redstone Arsenal to Winchester Road (CR 65).

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2021 Federal Issues Book ■ Redstone Arsenal East Connector: Roadway consisting of 2.5 miles of new four-lane divided limited access highway from I-565 directly into Redstone Arsenal Gate 10 at Patton Road. The corridor study is funded and is currently in discussion of scope with ALDOT and FHWA. This project is needed to divert Interstate traffic directly to the eastern side of Redstone Arsenal for direct access to new jobs and building that are associated with existing and proposed employment centers and commercial infrastructure on base.

■ Madison Boulevard: Widen Madison Boulevard from four to six lanes from County Line Road east to Madison/Huntsville City limit, including drainage and landscape improvements and adding sidewalk.

■ I-565 Interchange near Zierdt Road, Hughes Road Extension and Auxiliary Lanes on I-565: A 2015 Federal Interstate Justification Study showed that the proposed interchange would reduce traffic load at the Wall Triana Interchange by hundreds of cars per hour. Additionally, this locally funded new interchange will provide immediate and improved access to Zierdt Road from I-565 into Redstone Arsenal, which will allow the newly widened Zierdt Road to become a second major artery from I-565 into Redstone Arsenal’s Gate seven.

■ Widening of Wall Triana Highway from Capshaw Road to Highway 72 west: This section of road is located within the city limits of Huntsville, Madison and the unincorporated area of Madison County and is a major north to south corridor.

■ Widening of Old Monrovia Road from the Huntsville City limits west to Jeff Road.

■ Widening of Jeff Road from Douglas Road north to Highway 53.

■ Widening of Slaughter Road from Madison Boulevard to Highway 72: Slaughter Road is a major north-south corridor that traverses three jurisdictions: Huntsville, Madison, and Madison County. This road provides access from north Madison County to Madison, Huntsville, and Cummings Research Park.

■ Highway 53 Widening to the Tennessee State Line: This project has been on the ALDOT books for 25+ years. As growth in Northwest Madison County has continued, this road is becoming increasingly more dangerous. What was once a sleepy agriculture community is now filled with vibrant subdivisions and retail.

■ Huntsville–Browns Ferry Road: Widen Huntsville-Browns Ferry Road from two to four lanes from Mooresville Road to County Line Road, including sidewalk/multi-use path on at least one side.

■■■ AIRPORT SUPPORT PILOT PROGRAM TO EMPOWER SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORTS The FAA severely limits an airport’s ability to make business decisions which are in the best interest of the local community. The FAA provides for less than 25 percent of the funding for airport capital improvements on an annual basis, but yet controls 100 percent of the airport’s activity. The FAA does not provide airports with general fund dollars, but rather all airport funding comes from users of

the airport/aviation system. The FAA merely collects aviation taxes for redistribution to airports based on an archaic formula system.

The FAA would serve the airport/aviation community better by allowing airports to set rates, fees, and charges, including the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) based on individual airport needs and solely at the local level without any FAA interference.

Airports face redundancy and overly burdensome compliance and regulations: The 20-page Grant Assurance document that Sponsors (airports) “must” accept in conjunction with accepting an Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grant currently requires airports to comply with over 56 different Federal Regulations, Executive Orders, and Federal Legislation. The majority of the Grant Assurance provisions are an overreach by the FAA to control airport activities for a small grant contribution. In addition, Public sponsors have more stringent requirements than Private Sponsors. Sponsors must also meet the requirements of a 691 page FAA Compliance Manual, a 318 page AIP Handbook, and a 183 page PFC Order, which are just a few examples that further support the fact that the FAA overregulates airports.

Requested Action: It is requested that a pilot program be established where a limited number of small community airports that meet the criteria for a grant within the Small Community Air Service Development Program shall be deregulated economically, similar to airline deregulation in 1978, in order to achieve greater flexibility for small airports to meet the specific air service development needs of their local community. This would allow the selected small airports the ability to spend local airport revenues, without Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limitations, to implement programs and policies at the local level which could enhance air service for their community. The FAA should have no say in the leases, business practices or fund usage of an airport so long as the funds are used for the betterment of the airport, aviation system, or air service in their community, and there is no diversion of revenue for a non-airport related purpose. This would also demonstrate that airport deregulation would be a successful solution for airports to address their own issues such as reduced air service and high fares via proof of concept.

SUPPORT FOR C-UAS PROGRAM SITE SELECTION IN HUNTSVILLE The FAA is in the process of creating a program called Airport Unmanned Aircraft System(s) (UAS) Detection and Mitigation Research. The purpose of this program is to test and evaluate technologies or systems that detect and mitigate potential aviation safety risks posed by unmanned aircraft (UAS). As directed by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the FAA shall deploy such technologies or systems at five airports, including one airport that ranks in the top ten of the FAA’s most recent Passenger Boarding Data. Although the FAA is still in review and has not made a selection, Huntsville has the advantage of being a unique community in that it is home to multiple federal, commercial and university (UAH) UAS and Counter-UAS (C-UAS) programs. Irrespective of and while awaiting the FAA’s decision, existing synergies provided by federal agencies (Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy), commercial entities, local government agencies and academia are already engaged and located in the North Alabama region; therefore, Huntsville International Airport will continue efforts with our local partners to establish a UAS and C-UAS testing site and center of excellence at HSV. Requested Action: We ask for support of our community’s effort

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2021 Federal Issues Book to develop the HSV site as a Center of Excellence for UAS and C-UAS. Provide support for our request for the FAA to grant flexibility and support as we pursue our own program related to UAS and C-UAS testing and evaluation. Support funding requests for facility, infrastructure, equipment, and operating needs that will be necessary to fully develop the HSV testing site.

FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE The PFC cap has not been raised since 2000, when Congress raised the cap to $4.50. Since then, construction costs have risen more than 50 percent and severely eroded the purchasing power of PFCs. Past requests have implored that the cap be eliminated, or increased including a proposed Senate appropriations bill by the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (https://www.congress.gov/ bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1655 ). This bill, backed by Senator Susan Collins and Senator Jack Reed, would have increased the cap on the airport passenger facility charge (PFC) from $4.50 per flight segment to $8.50. This would have restored the PFC’s lost purchasing power and would have allowed airports to set their own levels based on locally-determined needs to ensure the continued safety, security, and modernization of their facilities. This bill would have provided greater flexibility for airports to make much needed capacity improvements. Pre-pandemic America’s airports would have needed nearly $130B in infrastructure over the next five years in order to match the demand. It sounds like a staggering number, but the number of passengers traveling through U.S. airports has doubled since 2000 to approximately oneB annually. While the pandemic will delay growth for several years these needs will not be eliminated. Conversely, the PFC that pays for critical infrastructure of those airports has not increased in over two decades. These airports in their current state were designed pre-pandemic for half of that traffic so it’s clear that something must be done to modernize airports.

Airports must also evaluate the need for modification of facilities as a result of the pandemic. Airports across the country and organizations like Airports Council International-North America and the American Association of Airport Executives stand alongside numerous conservative organizations asking Congress to consider eliminating the PFC cap entirely or, raising the cap and adjusting it periodically for construction cost inflation. These same groups have written to confirm that the PFC is not a tax, but rather a user fee that directly funds infrastructure improvements at airports. In North Alabama, at HSV specifically, we have immediate need for infrastructure investments in order to continue to be able to meet the expected flow of passengers and goods due to portions of our terminal being between 30 and 50 years old. Finally, this impacts HSV because if large airports are able to take advantage of the PFC increase they will forego entitlements (AIP) and thus more funds will be available in the small community discretionary fund for airports like HSV. Requested Action: Small communities around the country urge Congress to support infrastructure legislation that would increase the federal cap on local Passenger Facility Charges from $4.50 to $8.50 for origin and destination passengers only and to index for construction cost inflation. At a time when there is increasing pressure to reduce federal spending, eliminating the PFC cap would provide airports with the self-help they need to finance and complete critical infrastructure projects without relying on scarce federal funds.

SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT A majority of consumers recognize the importance of airports to the community, yet even with widespread support only a small percentage of the population is aware that Airport Improvement Program (AIP) federal funds are spent at the local level. Even less realize that while Congress deregulated the airline industry in 1978- allowing airlines to set airfares based on market-conditions- community airports remain burdened with federal economic regulations and, for the most part, are powerless to address airlines airfare pricing in their community. However, Congress has recognized by authorizing the Small Community Air Service Development Program that some small community airports have been severely impacted by insufficient air carrier service, or unreasonably high airfares.

National Impact: In addition to insufficient air carrier service and unreasonably high airfares, small airports have been and are being severely impacted by airline consolidations (mergers) and more recently the global pandemic. All of these issues intertwined result in reduced or eliminated air service. Airport infrastructure and economic deregulation of airports is a community and economic development issue. Airports need the ability to maintain effective modern infrastructure, as well as attract competitive airfares to their community, in order to meet the needs of commerce, industry and the general public within their region.

Requested Action: Support the concept of applying conditional code sharing, to small and non-hub airports within the National Air Space (NAS) system that meet the criteria for a grant within the Small Community Air Service Development Program, as a condition of U.S. DOT/DOJ approval for regulatory actions related to an airline merger, immunized alliance , or any other federal action, where connection to individual markets could be established. This concept has the support of and endorsement by the Airports Council International – North America.

SUPPORT DREAM CHASER® PROJECT AT HUNTSVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Huntsville/Madison County is another step closer to landing a space vehicle at the Huntsville International Airport, which would make it the first commercial service airport to land a vehicle from space.

Huntsville International Airport is in the process of applying for licensing through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to land the Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Dream Chaser® spacecraft on one of its commercial runways. This Phase II contract follows a Phase I contract completed in 2015 that examined the compatibility of SNC’s Dream Chaser® with the existing runway and taxiway environments at the Airport. Landing the Dream Chaser® spacecraft in Huntsville keeps our community at the forefront of economic development opportunities in the emerging commercial space industry. It is a logical fit for Huntsville considering proximity to industry, resources and unmatched related experience. In addition to this, Huntsville International Airport is submitting application to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) with hopes of being selected as the return runway for the UNOOSA Orbital Free-flying Space Mission.

Requested Action: Continue to generally support the Dream Chaser® project at Huntsville International Airport and specifically support HSV’s application to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to be the return runway for the UNOOSA Orbital Free-flying Space Mission.

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2021 Federal Issues Book MUNICIPAL BONDS

responses to mitigate emerging cyber security and supply chain risk management threats.

In the 116th Congress, the House Ways and Means Committee considered a number of items impacting tax free municipal bonds.

Among those items were reinstating tax-exempt advance refunding bonds and reinstating Build America Bonds that are protected from federal budget sequestration. There were also some legislative vehicles debated, such as H.R. 3967, the Municipal Bond Market Support Act, which would have increased the small issuer exception from $10M to $30M in issuances per year.

To keep pace with rapidly evolving global threats, MSIC must expand its own ability to capture, analyze, report and securely disseminate intelligence information and reports thru improvements to its MSIC Knowledge Base (MKB). This includes improving ways of digitizing information, cataloguing data, maximizing query discoverability and usability of information as an intelligence enterprise secured, shared resource at any optimal point of end-user need.

Requested Action: The Chamber requests that our delegation continue to support sound legislation that will increase our state, county and city’s access to tax free bond issues, so that their match to federal dollars will go farther.

■■■ MISSILE & SPACE INTELLIGENCE CENTER (MSIC) National Impact: Located at the Richard C. Shelby Center for Missile Intelligence on Redstone Arsenal, MSIC is one of our nation’s premier scientific and technical intelligence organizations. MSIC is charged with analyzing and understanding the characteristics, performance, operations, and vulnerabilities of foreign threat anti-tank, air defense, command and control, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), directed energy, and counter space weapon systems. MSIC’s efforts are vital elements to bolster our nation’s defense against these increasingly sophisticated, highly capable offensive foreign threats especially as U.S. and allied systems responsively become more complex and increasingly interoperable in complex battlespace, joint, and multi-domain (e.g., air-land-sea-space-cyber) operations.

Building upon outstanding scientific and engineering skills and capabilities across the Huntsville region, MSIC has been a pioneer in the development of innovative technical and engineering solutions to continually advance broader national intelligence analysis capabilities. These in-depth and innovative skills such as advanced modeling and simulation (M&S) should continue to be leveraged to address additional key national priorities such as the rapidly growing offensive hypersonics and cyber threats. In addition to M&S, enabling engineering toolsets to better analyze and evaluate material hardware is just as a critical factor in understanding the complete foreign threat system picture. The evolving sophistication of multi-domain battlespace operations demands advanced simulations be more collaboratively shared across intelligence production centers especially as technology and high-performance computing (HPC) power enables more seamless Integrated Threat Analysis Simulation Environments (ITASE).

Needs exist to better synergize MSIC’s threat-based technical capabilities with U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC) research and development. For example, MSIC’s advanced missile system modeling and simulation as well as hardware in the loop experience can significantly enhance AFC Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) AVMC as it works to define technology development priorities for U.S. Army requirements including the challenges of defining hypersonic vehicle performance capabilities to counter foreign threats. The MSIC-AFC AvMC offense-defense interaction research and analysis program should also be sustained and expanded upon. The program is also vital to understanding cyber threat characteristics and the development of

MSIC must also expand its physical facilities to support increased demand for cyber related lab space, high performance computing requirements, and foreign materiel exploitation project activities. As worldwide missile and air breathing threats increase in technical capabilities and inventory levels, the threats become more challenging to U.S. and allied warfighters. MSIC therefore must have the critical human, financial, physical, and facility resources necessary to sustain and expand its mission to support the acquisition community, national policy makers, and the air-sea-land and cyberspace operations of the combatant commands.

Community Impact: Employing about 400 government personnel and approximately 150 contractors, MSIC will continue to significantly contribute to our nation’s defense. The local economic impact from MSIC will be enhanced by ensuring funding supports robust analysis of the growing air defense, SRBM, counter space, hypersonic and cyber threats.

Requested Action: Increase FY21 MSIC funding over president’s budget request to provide increased support for MSIC intelligence analysis program, including enhancements for offensive hypersonics technology threat M&S, lab space facility expansion, as well as the cyber security offense-defense integration program and facility/lab space for HPC and foreign materiel exploitation.

■■■ CYBER National Impact: Redstone Arsenal and the Tennessee Valley are recognized nationwide as a Mission Assurance Center of Excellence and a federal center of excellence for cyber security research, development, and engineering programs and related policy. The established capabilities continue to advance and are far reaching. The growth in protecting the complexity of the defense industrial base, strategic supply chains, financial markets and intellectual property has extended into the space and cyberspace domains. As U.S. capabilities across DoD, DHS and intelligence communities continue to transition from “operating in space” to “operating from space” our capabilities must proportionally scale. This will require the development of a high quality, innovative workforce and continued discovery and creation of opportunities for collaboration among Government and private organizations. A growing FBI presence brings new opportunities for Redstone Arsenal tenants and industry partners to collaborate in the development of policy and programs that protect our mission systems, supply chain and critical infrastructure. In addition, the growing reliance of our nation’s defense and commerce to operate from space requires that we ensure our space-based assets are cyber resilient. Our community’s space development capabilities combined with our growing cyber expertise uniquely qualify our region to lead in space-oriented cyber resilience. Our cyber workforce must grow both in capacity and capability to satisfy existing and growing cyber workforce demands. Government and industry

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2021 Federal Issues Book must create new forums and communities of interest research and advocate for technical solutions as well as the necessary and adequate policy required for the creation and implementation of new capabilities.

■ Provide funding to Redstone Test Center to develop a distributed environment for systems-of-systems cybersecurity testing that can be utilized by all Team Redstone organizations to perform cybersecurity testing on critical mission systems.

Community Impact: The Tennessee Valley continues to define steps toward generating an advanced workforce pipeline to develop, attract and retain a broad range of technical and management professionals focused on cyber security and mission systems assurance.

Huntsville and the surrounding Tennessee Valley will promote progressive, complementary initiatives established at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the Alabama School for Cyber Technology & Engineering, and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s U.S. Cyber Camp. These initiatives define the framework for a progressive path to develop desperately needed technicians, managers, and policy developers.

■ Sustain and increase the funding to SMDC to support Cyber M&S environment, conduct advanced cyber analytics, ID vulnerabilities, train operators, test systems against threats that cannot be deployed on operational or R&D systems, and tune defensive tools to these threats.

Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal are in a unique position to exercise and operationalize the entire cyber ecosystem, from education and training for the next generation of cyber and STEM professionals, to ensuring the right skilled workforce, to safeguarding and developing cyber-enabled capabilities for national and economic security. With the additional funding that is being requested, measurable progress can be made to shape and realize the capabilities and the workforce that will be required in the future.

Requested Actions: ■ Increase PEO Missiles & Space and PEO Aviation funding to defend weapons systems against cyberattacks, integrate cyber policy and programmatic capabilities in the acquisition lifecycle, and protect the industrial base and supply chain. Each of the listed requirements should leverage the use of data, advanced analytics, and automation to ensure long term program scale and affordability. NDAA 831, 224, 845, 1637, (Secs. 1648, 1657, & 6307) ■ Support the creation of a policy, program and integration think tank to support Supply Chain and Counterintelligence Risk Management Task Force (Sec. 6306). “The NDAA orders the Director of National Intelligence to establish a Supply Chain and Counterintelligence Risk Management Task Force to standardize information sharing between the Intelligence Community and the government’s acquisition personnel with respect to supply chain and counterintelligence risks. The task force must deliver an annual report to several congressional committees.” Also supports Sec 831 The NDAA directs the Acquisition Executive for each military service to recommend to the Secretary of Defense at least one major weapon systems acquisition program for a pilot program focused on streamlining the entire milestone decision process for major weapons acquisition programs. The results of the pilot program will be evaluated and reported for potential wider use in those very large procurements.

■ Increase STEM-Outreach funding to support the development of curriculum for the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering. Acknowledging the national need for STEM education, the U.S. Congress in NDAA 2020, Section 512, authorized inclusion of STEM courses of instruction or activities for JROTC. Under the ASA, M&RA, and in partnership with Army Cyber Command, Cadet Command, TRADOC, academia, and national defense agencies, the JROTC Cyber Pilot Program will modernize and complement the traditional JROTC curriculum with innovative curriculum designed to prepare a new generation of cyber professionals entering the civilian workforce, military or post-secondary education.

■ Sustain the FY20 and increase the FY21 CCDC AvMC Advanced Scientific Research Program funding and AvMC-MSIC offense/ defense interaction in the cyber, electronic warfare and Air and Missile Domain (AMD).

■ Sustain and increase funding for the National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education program which supports UAH and 8 other Alabama colleges and universities.

■ Support specific Tennessee Valley-based multiagency collaboration (DoD, DOJ, NASA) efforts in applied artificial intelligence capabilities that include cyber domain capabilities such as enhanced cyber threat intelligence and automated cyber detection and response.

■■■ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MACHINE LEARNING/DATA ANALYTICS National Impact: Army Secretary McCarthy, “our data and data sets are the digital ammunition of the future.” All the U.S. near-peer national security competitors seek to take the lead on AI/ML and massive data analytics, in some cases by disrupting the U.S. through cyber-attack, espionage, and outright theft. Title II of the FY21 NDAA includes a specific section (Sub-title C) on Artificial Intelligence.

Three of the Army’s top eight (8) Research and Development Investments are prioritized for Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Autonomy. The 2018 National Security Strategy prioritizes AI/ Data Analytics as a National Competitive Threat: [China, Russia will use] “intelligence collection and data analytic capabilities based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning.”

Community Impact: All Federal and DoD activities located on Redstone Arsenal use or are directly affected by AI/ML/Data Analytics.

Advanced AI/ML technology impacts hundreds of weapon systems managed by Redstone Arsenal activities. Activities at Redstone from the DoD and Federal sector are piece-meal funded for AI/ML/Data Analysis, or DoD funding is centrally controlled and apportioned outside Redstone or the Army.

The Huntsville geographic area should be one of the DoD/Federal centers for AI/ML and Data Analytics considering the direct consequences in National Security and Homeland Security. Redstone Arsenal is home to the DoD’s primary rotary wing and Unmanned Aircraft System developers whose sensors are essential to battlefield intelligence and increasingly use AI/ML and on-board data analysis. RSA wide activities associated with the Army’s Project Convergence which is an effort focused on demonstration and integration of advanced threat sensing. Data, Cloud and AI technologies in Project Convergence generate transformational change in Army operations and enable joint force overmatch against the stated near-peer threats.

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2021 Federal Issues Book Requested Actions: ■ Recognize Redstone Arsenal and the key weapon systems development activities as central to the DoD AI/ML and Data Analytics capability.

■ Fully fund AI/ML and Sensor Data Analytics in Army Aviation Systems and the R&D supporting Aviation, Missiles and Space.

■ Ensure one activity located at Redstone Arsenal is on the Section 234 of the FY21 NDAA as a use-case for Defense Reform.

■■■ FBI CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT REDSTONE ARSENAL We are grateful to Senator Shelby for his continued support for the growth of the FBI on Redstone Arsenal and we applaud his success in advancing this effort.

■■■ BROADBAND & COMMUNICATIONS SPECTRUM Broadband, both wired and wireless, is an important component of our infrastructure and critical to growing and diversifying our economy. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber supports broadband policies that promote: (1) increased access to affordable broadband for all Alabamians, (2) the efficient deployment of advanced technologies, including small cells and 5G, while also recognizing local authorities to manage the rights of way consistent with local character and existing law, (3) continued investment and innovation to enhance deployment across Alabama, and (4) competition and choice for Alabama’s businesses and residents.

■■■ MEDICARE WAGE INDEX – HEALTHCARE Nearly oneM Alabama residents rely on Medicare for health insurance, with the State’s ninety-two hospitals providing both the infrastructure and safety net for their healthcare. Medicare pays hospitals for this care through a complicated formula that relies in large part on a “wage index” that has long-ago lost its ability to fairly allocated Medicare dollars.

The wage index is part of a formula used nationwide to determine how much a hospital is paid for providing care to Medicare patients.

The original intent was to provide Medicare payments to hospitals based on market-to-market differences in labor costs nationwide.

The wage index formula is budget neutral, meaning when wages of hospitals go up in one part of the country, payments in these hospitals increase and payments to hospitals in other areas decrease.

While the goal of the original wage index was to reflect variations in the country’s labor markets, the formula has been manipulated. The system now includes a multitude of exceptions and political fixes and is no longer a true representation of labor markets. Beyond political manipulation, since the wage index formula is budget neu-

tral, a self-perpetuating cycle develops for states like Alabama. As a state like California receives higher payments, those hospitals have more resources to increase wages, driving their wage index higher and rural states’ wage index lower. After years of manipulation and this cycle of the rich getting richer, hospitals in some states are paid nearly twice as much as Alabama hospitals for providing the exact same care to a Medicare patient. While a partial fix was implemented in 2019 – providing hospitals in the lowest quartile an increase of half the difference between their wage index and the 25th percentile – the underlying formula remains fundamentally flawed and further rule changes are necessary to close the large gap between urban and rural providers.

Forty percent of all hospital care in Alabama is covered by Medicare, so for every dollar lost to another state in reduced Medicare payments, the cost is spread to patients who have private insurance.

Hospitals in high cost markets are rewarded, while cost efficient markets like Alabama are penalized.

Requested Action: Support actions to recalculate the wage index formula to remove inherent inequalities and to provide reasonable payments to all hospitals for services provided. The formula should be reset to avoid manipulation, set a range on payments to avoid a negative self-perpetuating cycle, and to establish a reasonable floor that rewards efficient providers.

■■■ REGIONAL ENERGY INNOVATION The Huntsville community continues to invest considerable time and effort to promote energy market economic development, and assess emerging opportunities in the area with TVA, DoD, DoE, ADECA, TARCOG, the Business Council of Alabama and the Energy Institute of Alabama. The Mayor’s office, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, UAH, Redstone Arsenal, Army Corps of Engineers, MSFC, AMCOM, CCDC, Oak Ridge-Huntsville Partnership, the TVC, TechRich, BizTech, Huntsville Utilities, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (U.S.SRC), Seven States Power Corporation, and TVA work continuously to frame candidate energy projects and activities that would reduce community and DoD energy consumption, reduce logistics requirements in the field, improve resiliency and redundancy, and provide low-cost renewable power production capabilities at installations including Redstone, the U.S.SRC, Huntsville Utilities, BizTech and other eligible sites in the region.

A significant ongoing activity is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville Center continuing to execute important contracting efforts for renewable energy generation, management, and control systems.

Community Impact: Emerging energy technology companies and their solution systems, along with DoD and commercial applications, represent a promising opportunity to diversify and grow the region’s economy in the energy sector. Huntsville energy interests collaborate on opportunities to apply critical systems R&T and testing skills to new Huntsville projects, such as the use of fuel cells in UAVs, biofuels in the Army fleet, the validation of renewable energy power production systems, energy storage, distributed energy resources (DER) like small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), combined heat and power (CoGen) facilities, renewable energy resources and other portable power systems for the warfighter in support of the U.S. Army. The community also sees this as a way to spawn new commercial applications, and to further solidify Huntsville’s image and reputation as a provider of innovative and leading edge technical energy solutions.

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2021 Federal Issues Book Requested Actions: ■ Support innovative energy pilot projects at Redstone and the U.S.SRC that align with the area’s power generation and monitoring requirements to include feasibility analysis.

■ Support the provisions of the Military Energy Security Act in establishing collaborative DoD and DoE Pilot Programs such as DER and SMRs. ■ Support DoD and DoE energy initiatives and proposals that enable technologies, such as SMRs, renewables, energy storage, alternative fuel development, and other opportunities developed in the broader Tennessee Valley region to compete for funding via budget measures and incentives.

■ Support policy and community initiatives that reduce barriers and enable businesses to take advantage of cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

■■■ THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) serves 510,000 households and 102,000 commercial and industrial customers through local power distributors in 17 Alabama counties. TVA’s contribution in economic development and stewardship of the Tennessee River has made a considerable impact in Alabama for more than 80 years.

TVA’s Alabama footprint is second only to Tennessee in value of assets, transmission load and revenue at $1.6B, which is 14.1 percent of TVA’s total operating revenue.

The TVA Board is challenged by not having a full complement of 9 appointed members. Currently, 2 seats are vacant with two more terms set to expire in May of 2021. A full contingent of TVA Directors is needed to ensure the continued success of TVA in fulfilling its mission. Given Alabama’s stake in the success of TVA, it is crucial and warranted that Alabama is represented on the TVA Board of Directors. Presently, it is not.

Requested Action: We urgently request that the pending open TVA board positions be filled as soon as possible and that at least two TVA Directors be selected from Alabama.

■■■ NUCLEAR WASTE POSITION National Impact: The Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 1982 charged the Department of Energy (DOE) to locate a site to establish a safe, permanent location for the storage and disposal of high-radioactive waste produced by U.S. nuclear-power electric generation plants. In 1987, Congress amended the NWPA by designating Yucca Mountain as the only suitable site for this centralized storage and disposal facility. However, the DOE has yet to fulfill their legal responsibility to establish this site, even though the funds were raised and the site was selected for the department by Congress. While inaction continues, over 2000 tons of nuclear waste is produced in the U.S. annually, and nuclear-powered electric generation plants across the United States, including TVA’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, are forced to store nuclear waste on site.

Community Impact: The TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant has been collecting and storing spent nuclear waste for 47 years.

Requested Action: While we do want to thank Congress for the funding they appropriated in the omnibus bill enacted in December 2020 for temporary storage, our Chamber urges Congress to enact bipartisan legislation to fully address this issue and ensure the DOE carries out their responsibility. The House initiated this work during the 116th Congress with H.R. 2699, and we request that Congress revive and enact this bill.

■■■ PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE, MISSILES AND SPACE (PEO MS): National Impact: According to Army Air and Missile Defense (AMD) 2028, to succeed in large scale combat operations, U.S. Army AMD Forces must execute three essential tasks across Multi-Domains (land, sea, air, space, and cyber). Initially, fixed assets, semi-fixed assets, and maneuvering forces must be protected. Secondly, critical theater and operational support areas must be defended. Lastly, combat capabilities must converge at critical points in the battlespace to exploit windows of opportunity against the adversary. To provide the Army the Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) and AMD capabilities required to win in a Multi-Domain environment, PEO MS streamlined its organization and associated acquisition processes by instituting innovative solutions that will deliver integrated offensive and defensive fires capabilities to the Warfighters that include five of the Army’s 31+3 modernization programs: Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), Interim Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (IMSHORAD), Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC), and the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS). These modernization programs will increase Warfighter lethality and enhance force protection throughout the Multi-Domain battlespace.

Community Impact: PEO MS team of dedicated professionals work in collaboration with the Army Futures Command, its Cross Functional Teams, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Centers of Excellence, other military organizations, sister services, and the defense industry to pursue opportunities for combined research and development on emerging technologies, which support thousands of jobs in the Huntsville area.

Requested Action: Fully fund the President’s budget request for the Army’s Long Range Precision Fires and Air and Missile Defense modernization priorities.

INTEGRATED AIR MISSILE DEFENSE BATTLE COMMAND SYSTEM (IBCS) National Impact: The Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) is the cornerstone materiel solution for the Army IAMD program that provides a cohesive command and control (C2) system that integrates sensors and shooters. The IBCS provides a net-centric, plug and fight, common integrated fire control capability for all echelons of Army Air and Missile Defense (AMD). The IBCS architecture enables extended range and non-lineof-sight engagements across the full spectrum and operates directly on the Integrated Fire Control Network (IFCN) improving the AMD community’s ability to fight and survive in denied operational environments. The IBCS is an open-architecture system that integrates legacy and developmental weapons and sensors over a real-time, mesh network to provide a Single Integrated Air Picture and common mission command system in order to increase battlespace

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2021 Federal Issues Book and decision time. During the recent Limited User Test (LUT), IBCS successfully engaged multiple targets by fusing data from multiple sensors, demonstrating its ability to maintain continuous custody of targets, despite operating in contested-environment conditions.

air assets. Full funding will maintain hundreds of jobs in Huntsville.

Community Impact: Huntsville is the birthplace of IBCS. The program supports more than 600 jobs in the north Alabama area.

National Impact: IFPC Inc. 2 bridges the gap between current short range and high-altitude air missile defense systems and is a key component of the Army’s integrated air and missile defense architecture. It is a mobile, ground-based weapon system that provides 360-degree protection with the ability to simultaneously engage threats from different azimuths and is designed to defeat unmanned aircraft systems and cruise missiles. IFPC is an integral part of tiered and layered air and missile defense that will use the new Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) as its mission command component.

Requested Action: Support the President’s Budget request for IBCS to deliver the Army’s #1 AMD priority that will allow us to fight and win in Multi-Domain environments. Full funding will maintain hundreds of jobs in Huntsville.

PRECISION STRIKE MISSILE (PRSM) National Impact: Long Range Precision Fires is the Army’s # 1 priority and a critical enabler in the Army’s ability to penetrate and neutralize enemy Anti-Access and Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities.

PrSM is our next-generation, long-range precision-strike missile with enhanced capabilities to attack, neutralize, suppress and destroy time sensitive enemy point and area targets using missile-delivered compliant cluster munition payloads out to 499+ kilometers. This extended range capability provides commanders the operational flexibility to penetrate, exploit, disintegrate, and dominate enemy A2/ AD - critical in the execution of Multi-Domain Operations. During this past year, PrSM conducted three (3) successful flight tests using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher. The missile traveled 240 kilometers striking the target with pin-point accuracy.

The PEO MS team is partnered with the Long Range Precision Fires Cross Functional Team and the DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center to develop and deliver Science and Technology solutions that will provide incremental capability improvements over time.

Community Impact: The PrSM developmental program locally supports the employment of dozens of Government and support contractor personnel in North Alabama.

Requested Action: Support the President’s Budget request for PrSM to deliver the Army’s #1 Long Range Precision Fires priority that significantly increases our tactical ground-to-ground missile ranges and that will allow us to fight and win in a Multi-Domain environment. Full funding will maintain hundreds of jobs in Huntsville.

INITIAL MANEUVER, SHORT-RANGE AIR DEFENSE (IM-SHORAD) National Impact: IM-SHORAD is an urgent acquisition program to deliver a near term capability to the maneuver force by providing air defense protection that counters a wide range of air threats to the freedom of maneuver of Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). To meet the immediate needs of the maneuver force, PEO MS is outfitting Stryker vehicles with a mission equipment package that includes a 30 mm cannon, Stinger missile system, and Longbow Hellfire missiles. IM-SHORAD is a highly maneuverable and survivable platform that will operate within Stryker and Armored BCTs providing needed protection against unmanned aircraft systems, rotary-wing, and residual fixed-wing threats. Future variants may include technology insertions such as Directed Energy that will provide a capability against Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar.

Community Impact: The program supports jobs in the north Alabama area.

Requested Action: Support the President’s IM-SHORAD Budget request to deliver the maneuver forces protection against enemy

INDIRECT FIRE PROTECTION CAPABILITY INCREMENT 2 (IFPC INC. 2)

Community Impact: The program supports jobs in the north Alabama area.

Requested Action: Support the President’s Budget request for IFPC to address the gap between short range and high-altitude defense. Full funding will maintain hundreds of jobs in Huntsville.

LOWER TIER AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE SENSOR (LTAMDS) National Impact: LTAMDS is a radar with 360-degree coverage that provides a significant operational advantage to the maneuver force by improving their ability to counter complex integrated attack and advanced electronic threats. Within the Integrated Battlefield Control System (IBCS) architecture, LTAMDS supports the Air and Missile Defense mission within the Lower Tier battlespace. As an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) sensor, LTAMDS supports the Army IAMD (AIAMD) System-of-Systems (SOS) tailorable task force concept by providing a multifunctional sensor and reducing the operational footprint. The execution of 360-degree engagements supports the full engagement capability of the PATRIOT family of interceptors to defeat threats and address capability gaps, and provides track data, which other components of the AIAMD SOS architecture can leverage. The system is designed to defeat advanced and next generation threats including hypersonic weapons. The LTAMDS battlespace created by the increased search volume results in a smaller force package requiring less logistical support while providing required operational capabilities.

Community Impact: The program supports one hundred and fifty jobs in the north Alabama area.

Requested Action: Support the President’s LTAMDS Budget request that will allow us to fight and win against peer competitors. Full funding will maintain hundreds of jobs in Huntsville.

PHASED ARRAY TRACKING TO INTERCEPT OF TARGET (PATRIOT) National Impact: PATRIOT is the most successful and effective air and missile defense capability currently employed by U.S. forces and fifteen (15) allied partners. U.S. Army estimates indicate that the PATRIOT will provide critical Air and Missile Defense capability to our Joint forces to 2030 and beyond. The PATRIOT capability will evolve as integrated radars, launchers, and interceptors within the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) system starting in 2022. The PATRIOT system is also a component of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System. Recently, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), PEO MS, and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command successfully conducted a test to validate

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2021 Federal Issues Book the interoperability of PATRIOT and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system. The test was successful meeting 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requirements for MDA and the Army to test the interoperability and integration of PATRIOT and THAAD annually.

Community Impact: Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal are PATRIOT’s birthplace and home. Hundreds of civilian and government jobs in the Huntsville area are critical to the PATRIOT program. All program actions for U.S. Military and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) are processed through the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal.

Requested Action: Support the President’s Budget Request.

Advocate for continued efforts to support international sales.

PROJECT CONVERGENCE AND SURVIVABILITY AND RESILIENCY EXERCISE (SUREX) National Impact: One of the tenants of Multi-Domain Operations is convergence – the ability to integrate effects across all five domains. The Army Futures Command (AFC) implemented Project Convergence, a structured series of demonstrations that will consist of Joint All-Domain Operational environments, where the Army will demonstrate artificial intelligence and networked lethality technologies that augment human sensing and decision making in order to improve the warfighter’s lethality and the pace of battle. The PEO MS team is coordinating with the AFC for potential opportunities for PrSM and IBCS participate in Project Convergence 21 (either directly or indirectly) to demonstrate Joint All-Domain Operational capabilities. The PEO MS Survivability and Resiliency Exercises provide the environment to assess and improve survivability and operations of these Joint All-Domain Operational capabilities. The Survivability and Resiliency Exercise (SuReX) is unique in that it helps reduce the risk between developmental and operational test for multiple systems from a cyber-electromagnetic activity (CEMA) purview. For PEO MS, this exercise provides the ability to evaluate future requirements based on an evolving threat at the speed of relevance. SuReX helps planning, executing, and reporting early in the systems engineering development cycle, which allows for influence designs in progress to capture engineering data used by analysts and engineers to make configuration and procedural survivability/resiliency changes prior to entering operational testing. Resulting in a reduction of life cycle sustainment costs.

Community Impact: The program supports hundreds of jobs in the north Alabama area.

Requested Action: Support PEO MS funding to protect weapons systems against CEMA threats in support of cyber policy and programmatic capabilities in the acquisition lifecycle. The return on investment for SuReX greatly exceeds the annual investment through economy of scale, cost avoidance, and increased survivability of our weapon systems in denied environments.

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ARMY CONTRACTING BACKGROUND: Army Contracting Command–Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) and Army Materiel Command (AMC) Legal Center–Redstone Arsenal (Aviation and Missile Command) have submitted a legislative proposal to revise 10 U.S.C 2371b, Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects.

The Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) proposed to use 10 U.S.C 2371b, Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects, in FY20 for a production contract following the successful completion of a prototype project for the Initial Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense System (IM-SHORAD). In order to use this authority, ACC-R was required to obtain approval by the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition & Sustainment) of a Determination & Finding (D&F) to meet the requirement of 10 U.S.C 2371b (a)(2). Issues with language in the statute, specifically concerning follow-on production contracts, arose during the staffing process. The language of 10 U.S.C 2371b (a)(2) (A)(ii) and 10 U.S.C 2371b (a)(2)(B)(ii) suggests that the D&F had to demonstrate that only 10 U.S.C 2371b, and no other authority, was available to award a non-competitive follow-on production contract to the participants in the prototype project. However, that would almost never be the case, because 10 U.S.C.2304(c) specifically authorizes contracting for follow-on production without providing for full and open competition. (The document that ACC uses to exercise this authority is a Justification & Approval (J&A) for other than full and open competition, as addressed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).)

National/Local Impact: The wording of the statute (10 U.S.C 2371b) resulted in a significant three-month delay in approval for what was otherwise the fast-track acquisition approach that Congress intended it to be, and additionally put at risk a mission-critical program with a Directed Requirement, valued at $1.2B. The resulting impacts delayed fielding of the system imposed unacceptable constraints on Army operations, with significant adverse impact on the protection of maneuvering battalions from aerial threats.

Requested Actions: ■ ACC-RSA and the AMC Legal Center Redstone Arsenal (RSA) – requests support for a legislative proposal to revise 10 U.S.C 2371b, Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects.

■ The changes proposed clarify that follow-on production can use the authority at 10 U.S.C 2371b or any other available authority and that the production follow-on can be an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) or a FAR-based contract.

No negative impact is apparent in the proposal and the revisions to the statute will prevent interpretation issues and resulting delays DoD-wide.

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For more information, please contact: Mike Ward, CCE, IOM Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs Huntsville/Madison County Chamber 256-535-2030 mward@hsvchamber.org Amberly Kimbrough Events Coordinator Huntsville/Madison County Chamber 256-535-2031 akimbrough@hsvchamber.org