Sponsor
Tom Barrett
Representative · R-MI
Representative · R-MI
The bill would improve military flight safety and interoperability by accelerating ACAS–X development and standards, but does so at the cost of additional Defense spending, potentially difficult retrofits, and procurement/compliance burdens.
Military aircrews and aircraft operators would gain improved midair collision avoidance if ACAS–X is deployed across platforms, reducing the risk of midair collisions and improving flight safety.
Defense R&D and program offices would receive clearer guidance and identified funding needs to accelerate certification and fielding of ACAS–X, speeding deployment and improving operational readiness.
Standardizing interoperability with civilian ADS–B In/Out traffic surveillance would help military aircraft operate more safely and smoothly in shared airspace with civilian traffic.
Taxpayers and the Defense budget could face additional RDT&E, certification, and retrofit costs to pursue ACAS–X, imposing opportunity costs for other defense priorities or increasing federal spending.
Units operating diverse airframes (including rotorcraft) could face complex, costly retrofits that delay fielding and reduce operational availability for some units.
Defense suppliers, federal program offices, and small businesses could incur new procurement or compliance burdens if implementation requires legislative changes or mandates, disrupting schedules and increasing administrative costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DoD to deliver an ACAS‑X deployment action plan within 180 days and allows the Secretary to implement actions identified in the plan.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a plan for the deployment of Airborne Collision Avoidance System-X.
Introduced July 9, 2026 by Tom Barrett · Last progress July 9, 2026
Requires the Secretary of Defense to deliver an action plan within 180 days to advance deployment and certification of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System–X (ACAS–X) family across U.S. military aircraft. The plan must include a roadmap for widespread military adoption, research and development and standards needs, interoperability with ADS‑B In/Out (including rotorcraft), safety benefit assessment, and recommended administrative or legislative actions; the Secretary may carry out actions to implement the plan and must brief relevant Armed Services committees within 30 days after submission.