H.R. 5086: SkyFoundry Act of 2025

This bill, known as the SkyFoundry Act of 2025, aims to establish a program under the Department of Defense focused on the rapid development, testing, and scalable manufacturing of small unmanned aircraft systems (drones). Here’s a breakdown of what the bill would do:

SkyFoundry Program Establishment

The Secretary of Defense is required to establish a program titled the SkyFoundry Program, which shall:

• Enable rapid development and testing of small unmanned aircraft.
• Include potential expansion to related autonomous systems and energetics as deemed appropriate.

Administration of the Program

The SkyFoundry Program will be administered by the Secretary of the Army and will be a part of the Defense Industrial Resilience Consortium. This ensures that the program is integrated into existing structures that support defense manufacturing and technology.

Acquisition Mechanisms

To speed up the development and production processes, the program will utilize alternative acquisition mechanisms, including:

• Other transaction authority under specific sections of the U.S. Code.
• The middle tier of acquisition pathway for rapid prototyping and fielding.

Program Components

The program will include two main components:

• Innovation Facility: A government-owned facility operated by the Army that focuses on research and innovation related to small unmanned aircraft systems.
• Production Facility: A facility designated to produce up to 1,000,000 small unmanned aircraft systems annually once fully operational.

Public-Private Partnerships

The Secretary may establish partnerships with private companies, academic institutions, and nonprofit entities to enhance support for the program. This may include:

• Multi-year contracts with contractors to augment the program's capabilities.
• Cooperation with private industry to promote shared development and innovation efforts.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The program must prioritize existing Army Depot facilities for both the innovation and production components and may include:

• Renovation and expansion of these facilities as necessary.
• Specific site selection criteria that include land size, buildable acres, and facility space.

Intellectual Property Rights

The program will ensure that the U.S. government retains adequate rights to intellectual property and technical data from developments made under the program. This is crucial for maintaining national defense capabilities and competitiveness.

Defense Production Act Designation

The President or the Secretary of Defense will prioritize the domestic production of small unmanned aircraft systems under the Defense Production Act. This will recognize such systems as essential to national defense and may include investments for increasing production capacity and strategic resources.

Expedited Approvals

The bill allows for expedited approval processes and potential waivers of regulatory requirements that could slow down the program's development and production activities.

Relevant Companies

• BA (Boeing): Boeing is involved in the production of unmanned aircraft systems and may see an increase in demand or contract opportunities as a result of this program.
• RTX (Raytheon Technologies): Raytheon develops unmanned aerial systems and related technologies, which could benefit from increased funding and contracts through the SkyFoundry Program.
• LMT (Lockheed Martin): As a key player in defense contracting and unmanned systems, Lockheed Martin may participate in the development and acquisition processes outlined in the bill.