§5536 Testing and Assessment of Missile Defense Systems Prior to Production and Deployment

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must not approve final production or operational deployment of a covered system unless two things happen. First, the system must get enough realistic testing to show a high probability it will work in real operations and can do its intended mission. Second, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation must complete a required review. The Director must give the Secretary a written assessment, based on available test data, about whether the testing was sufficient, adequate, and shows the system will be effective, suitable, and survivable when needed. The Director must also send a written summary of that assessment to the congressional defense committees. This does not change how the Missile Defense Agency joins certain development or reporting processes, and it does not reduce the Secretary’s authority to deploy a missile defense system when the Secretary decides. A covered system means a new or greatly upgraded interceptor or weapon system of the ballistic missile defense system.