S. 4711: Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act

This bill, titled the Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act, proposes the establishment of a United States-Ukraine Strategic Defense Innovation Working Group. The primary goal of this Working Group is to foster collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine in the development and production of unmanned defense systems, which include unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned underwater vehicles, and other related technologies.

Key Objectives

The bill outlines several key objectives for the Working Group:

• Co-developing, co-producing, and acquiring unmanned systems that are designed for specific military missions and can operate in high-risk environments.
• Exploring ways to establish technology transfer frameworks that will allow the sharing of military technologies between the U.S. and Ukraine.
• Analyzing the methodologies used by Ukraine’s military and defense industry to enhance the development and deployment of these unmanned systems.

Establishment and Composition

The Working Group is to be established within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, co-chaired by key U.S. defense officials, including:

• The Under Secretary of Defense.
• The Director of the Defense Innovation Unit.
• The Director of the Joint Interagency Task Force 401.
• The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
• The Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command.

The Working Group will also include representatives from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian military forces, and various defense organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Working Group will be tasked with:

• Identifying effective unmanned systems developed in Ukraine that could enhance U.S. military capabilities.
• Recommending improvements for integrating these systems into existing U.S. defense programs.
• Setting up agreements for mutual technology transfer and defense procurement between the U.S. and Ukraine.
• Assessing the feasibility of deploying U.S.-manufactured unmanned systems in Ukraine for operational testing.

Prioritization of Systems

The bill emphasizes prioritizing unmanned systems designed in Ukraine for co-development and production in the U.S. This includes:

• Analyzing statutory requirements to facilitate the fielding of these systems.
• Identifying authorities to expedite the establishment of joint ventures and cooperative production agreements.
• Conducting assessments to ensure systems meet necessary frameworks for production and deployment.

Reports and Meetings

The Working Group is required to meet at least once every 120 days. It will also provide initial and semiannual reports to congressional defense committees detailing progress, challenges, and recommendations related to the integration of Ukrainian systems into U.S. defense strategies.

Termination of the Working Group

The Working Group will generally terminate five years after the Act's enactment but may continue for an additional year if deemed necessary for national security.

Relevant Companies

• LMT (Lockheed Martin Corporation) - As a major defense contractor that develops unmanned systems, they could be involved in potential joint ventures for co-developing technologies with Ukraine.
• RTX (Raytheon Technologies) - This company manufactures various unmanned defense systems and may engage in collaborations with the Ukrainian military as a result of this bill.
• BA (Boeing) - Known for its work in unmanned aerial systems, Boeing might explore production and technology sharing opportunities with Ukraine.