Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73not60

§5537 Limitation on Missile Defense Agency Production of Satellites and Ground Systems Associated with Operation of Such Satellites

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— General Military Law › Part VI— ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS › Subpart A— Elements › Chapter 551— MISSILE DEFENSE › Subchapter III— MISSILE DEFENSE CAPABILITIES › § 5537

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director of the Missile Defense Agency may not approve or spend money on a full production program to build satellites or the ground systems that run them. The Director can approve one or more prototype satellites if the Space Acquisition Council agrees. The Council chair must send the congressional defense committees a report explaining why within 30 days of agreeing. The Director cannot obligate funds for those prototypes until that report is sent.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §5537

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Director of the Missile Defense Agency may not authorize or obligate funding for a program of record for the production of satellites or ground systems associated with the operation of such satellites.

(b)(1)The Director, with the concurrence of the Space Acquisition Council established by section 9021 of this title, may authorize the production of one or more prototype satellites, consistent with the requirements of the Missile Defense Agency.

(2)Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Space Acquisition Council concurs with the Director with respect to authorizing the production of a prototype satellite under paragraph (1), the chair of the Council shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report explaining the reasons for such concurrence.

(3)The Director may not obligate funds for the production of a prototype satellite under paragraph (1) before the date on which the Space Acquisition Council submits the report for such prototype satellite under paragraph (2).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2103, which was set out in a note under section 4022 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XVI, § 1649(b)(2), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2199.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 5537

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60