FY2026 NDAA, Section 152 ("Requirements for an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roadmap for the Air Force")

Proposed 2025-03-14 | Enacted 2025-12-18 | Official source

Summary

Require the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a roadmap by October 1, 2026, detailing AI, machine learning, and other ISR technology investments.

This summary is awaiting validation (peer review by a second AGORA editor).

Key facts

🏛️ This document has been enacted by the United States Congress. For authoritative text and metadata, visit the official source.

🎯 This document primarily applies to the government, rather than the private sector.

📜 This document's name is National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, Section 152 ("Requirements for an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roadmap for the Air Force"). AGORA also tracks this document under the name FY2026 NDAA, Section 152 ("Requirements for an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roadmap for the Air Force"). It is part of FY2026 NDAA.

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Themes AI risks, applications, governance strategies, and other themes addressed in AGORA documents.

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Governance strategies (2)

Full text

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SEC. 152. REQUIREMENT FOR AN INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE ROADMAP FOR THE AIR FORCE. (a) In General.--Not later than October 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a comprehensive roadmap detailing the strategic plan for the development, acquisition, modernization, and integration of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the Air Force.

(b) Elements.--The roadmap required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) A strategic assessment of current (as of the date on which the roadmap is submitted) and projected intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance requirements for the Air Force across all domains, including air, space, and cyberspace. (2) An inventory of current (as of the date on which the roadmap is submitted) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, sensors, and associated data-processing systems, including the mission capabilities, operational status, and expected service life for each.

(3) A plan for the modernization or divestment of legacy airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, with individualized justification of the modernization or divestment plan for each such legacy system. (4) A detailed outline of planned investments and capabilities in emerging intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance technologies, including-- (A) artificial intelligence; (B) machine learning; (C) space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and (D) autonomous or remotely piloted platforms.

(5) An assessment of the integration of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data into command and control networks, including interoperability with joint, interagency, and allied partners. (6) A risk assessment identifying potential capability gaps, threats, and mitigation strategies. (7) A description of the roles and responsibilities of the components of the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance effort of the Air Force in implementing the roadmap. (8) A proposed timeline and milestones for the implementation of the roadmap over the next ten fiscal years.