Rob Wittman on NDAA: Improving Military Aircraft Availability and Countering Drones

Bipartisan Support for Tactical Forces

• 🎯 The subcommittee mark is a result of incredible bipartisan work, ensuring warfighters have relevant and lethal equipment.
• ⚡ The goal is to provide American warfighters with tactical advantages for any conflict, ensuring next-generation fighter jets, counter-drone tech, ground vehicles, and ammunition are available at the speed of relevance.

Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

• ⚠️ The fiscal year 2026 tactical air and land mark addresses the growing threat of small unmanned aircraft systems by elevating the Joint Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (JCO).
• 🚀 Modeled after the joint counter IED office, the JCO will be empowered with necessary authorities to coordinate all DoD efforts to counter drones as a weapon of strategic influence.
• 💡 This initiative aims to act with the same urgency seen 20 years ago regarding IEDs, recognizing drones as the IED of our generation.

Enhancing Air Superiority and Strike Capabilities

• ✈️ The mark supports an increase of 21 F-15 EX tactical fighter aircraft and authorizes funding for the Air Force's F-47 and Navy's FAXX 6th generation aircraft programs.
• 💰 Funding for F-35 spare parts and equipment is increased by $500 million to improve aircraft availability and mission capability rates, which are currently unacceptably low.
• 🔍 Critical oversight of the F-35 program continues, alongside improvements in the transparency of munitions supply chains and manufacturing.

Modernizing Munitions and Staying Ahead of Adversaries

• 📈 Directives are in place for reports on the Army's efforts to modernize and expand the munitions industrial base.
• 🇨🇳 The CL20 energetics pilot program is highlighted to keep pace with Chinese advancements in modern weapons technology and chemistry.
• 💥 The focus is on increasing range and lethality to close the gap with potential adversaries.