Bill > S3381

This bill requires the Secretary of the Air Force to include depot-level maintenance, repair, and sustainment considerations in at least one multinational exercise annually within the United States Indo-Pacific Command's area of operations, involving "covered nations" which include Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, among others. This coordination aims to identify opportunities for cooperation that minimize transportation needs, facilitate real-time coordination for munitions and resupply, ensure mutual recognition of airworthiness and maintenance certifications, and conduct emergency tabletop exercises in a challenging logistics environment. The bill also mandates coordination with the Air Force Sustainment Center and participation from various Air Force commands. Furthermore, within one year of enactment, the Secretary must report to Congress on lessons learned from exercises with the Republic of Korea and Australia, detailing candidate systems for joint sustainment, repair workload opportunities, potential industry partner involvement, logistical and intellectual property challenges, impediments related to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (which govern the export and import of defense articles and services), and recommendations for improving partnerships, including potential changes to status of forces agreements. The report will also assess current maintenance capabilities and gaps in partner nations and evaluate how such partnerships can enhance allied operations, interoperability, and regional resilience.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3381/all-info