Summary

Creates a Department of Defense program to rapidly develop, test, and scale manufacture of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). The program is run through the Army, uses streamlined acquisition authorities, will build and operate a government innovation facility and a government production facility sized to produce up to 1,000,000 sUAS per year, and can use Defense Production Act Title III powers and other waivers to speed production and reserve intellectual property rights for government use.

• Creates a DoD program to rapidly develop, test, and mass-produce small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).
• Program run by the Army using streamlined acquisition authorities (other transaction authority and middle-tier pathway).
• Establishes a government-run innovation facility and a government-owned production facility sized for up to 1,000,000 sUAS per year.
• Authorizes use of public–private partnerships and contractor support; prioritizes at least two existing Army depot sites for facilities.
• Gives the government minimum Government-purpose intellectual property rights for jointly developed systems.
• Directs use of Defense Production Act Title III authorities to prioritize items and support production scaling, stockpiles, and surge manufacturing.
• Allows the Secretary to expedite, waive, or modify DoD regulatory requirements that would otherwise slow the program.
• Permits renovation or construction of facilities despite ordinary statutory limits that might otherwise apply.
• Does not include an explicit funding appropriation in the text provided; it creates program authority and tools to be implemented by DoD.