Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act

U.S.-Ukraine unmanned systems partnership

If enacted, the bill would create a bilateral Strategic Defense Innovation Working Group to partner with Ukraine on co-development, co-production, testing, acquisition, and transfer of “covered unmanned systems.” The bill would define covered systems as low-cost, mission-focused unmanned vehicles and their software and command-and-control systems, including aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles and systems to detect or stop unmanned systems. The Secretary of Defense, coordinated with the Secretary of State, would seek to set up the Working Group within 90 days and the U.S. co-chairs (five senior Defense officials) would convene it at least once every 120 days. The Working Group would prioritize Ukraine-designed systems with combat utility; develop mutual tech-transfer, data-exchange, and joint IP and procurement frameworks; assess supply chains tied to adversary states; explore field testing and U.S. co-production pathways; and identify costs and steps to scale U.S. production. The group would brief congressional defense committees within 120 days, then send semiannual reports every 180 days (unclassified with possible classified annexes). The Working Group would end five years after enactment, with a one-year extension only if the Secretary certifies it is vital to national security and notifies Congress.