SEC. 219. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION INITIATIVE
See Ref [1].
- a. Establishment.–The Secretary of Defense shall designate an
executive agent, as such term is defined in Department of Defense
Directive 5101.01 (relating to DoD Executive Agent, issued February 7,
2022), responsible for synchronizing cooperative efforts between the
United States and Israel, to expand and accelerate bilateral defense
technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration, and
industrial cooperation, by–
- identifying jointly developed or Israeli-origin
technologies with operational utility for potential integration
into United States systems and programs of record; - ensuring collaborative research initiatives involving
government, private sector, and academic institutions in the
United States and Israel, is done in a manner that protects
sensitive technology and information and the national security
interests of the United States and Israel; - facilitating the transition of technologies from
research and development into procurement and acquisition
pathways; - establishing frameworks for joint ventures, licensing
agreements, and United States-based co-production or
manufacturing partnerships with Israeli industry; - coordinating with relevant Department of Defense
components, including the Irregular Warfare Technical Support
Directorate, capability development and innovation divisions,
the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering,
the Defense Innovation Unit, the United States-Israel
Operations Technology Working Group, the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency, the Missile Defense Agency, the
United States Space Command, the military departments, and
other Department of Defense entities, as appropriate, to align
efforts and avoid duplication; and - promoting joint training exercises and information-
sharing mechanisms to enhance operational readiness to deploy
jointly developed technologies.
- b. Cooperative Efforts.–The synchronized cooperative efforts
under subsection (a) may be carried out through the following domains:
- Counter-Unmanned Systems including aerial, maritime,
and ground platforms. - Anti-tunneling and subterranean threats.
- Missile and air defense technologies.
- Artificial intelligence, quantum, machine learning, and
autonomous systems. - Directed energy and advanced sensing.
- Cyber defense, electronic warfare, and digital
resilience. - Biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and medical defense.
- Network integration, data fusion, and contested
logistics. - Defense industrial base cooperation, manufacturing, and
co-production. - Other emerging technologies as jointly agreed by the
United States and Israel.
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c. Activities in Coordination With Other Federal Departments and
Agencies.–The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate activities, as
appropriate, with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce,
and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to
ensure consistency with existing laws and regulations. -
d. Interim Progress Update.–Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide
to the congressional defense committees an interim briefing on–
- the executive agent designated pursuant to subsection
(a) and the efforts undertaken by such executive agent to lead
Department of Defense implementation of the synchronized
cooperative efforts described in such subsection; - the status of coordination, Department-wide, with
Israeli counterparts; - initial technology areas identified for accelerated
cooperation and technologies with operational utility for
integration into United States systems and programs of record;
and - any early transition, prototyping, or integration
activities initiated during the period covered by the update.
- e. Annual Report.–Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until 2030, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a report on implementation of the cooperative efforts
described in subsection (a). Each such report shall include–
- a description of activities conducted;
- an assessment of progress made in advancing shared
national security interests; - an assessment of collaboration with other relevant
Federal programs; - a description of technologies transitioned into United
States acquisition programs or fielded systems; - a description of partnerships established with United
States and Israeli industry; and - recommendations for future opportunities to promote the
long-term integration of joint capabilities between the United
States and Israel.
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f Form.–Each report required under subsection (e) shall be
submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified annex. -
g. Public Transparency.–The Secretary of Defense shall make
available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense
periodic, unclassified updates, to the maximum extent practicable, on
the synchronized cooperative efforts carried out under subsection (a),
including a description of how these efforts contribute to United
States technological and military supremacy. Such updates shall be made
in a manner that ensures that classified information or other
information that would compromise operational security, export
controls, or sensitive technology are not released.
[1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8800/text
BILLS-119hr8800rh.pdf (2.9 MB)