SEC. 225. NEXT GENERATION EXO-ATMOSPHERIC KILL VEHICLE.
(a) Plan for Next Generation Kill Vehicle- The Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall develop a long-term plan for the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle that addresses both modifications and enhancements to the current exo-atmospheric kill vehicle and options for the competitive development of a next generation exo-atmospheric kill vehicle for the ground-based interceptor of the ground-based midcourse defense system and any other interceptor that might be developed for the defense of the United States against long-range ballistic missiles.
(b) Definition of Parameters and Capabilities-
(1) ASSESSMENT REQUIRED- The Director shall define the desired technical parameters and performance capabilities for a next generation exo-atmospheric kill vehicle using an assessment conducted by the Director for that purpose that is designed to ensure that a next generation exo-atmospheric kill vehicle design--
(A) enables ease of manufacturing, high tolerances to production processes and supply chain variability, and inherent reliability;
(B) will be optimized to take advantage of the ballistic missile defense system architecture and sensor system capabilities;
(C) leverages all relevant kill vehicle development activities and technologies, including from the current standard missile-3 block IIB program and the previous multiple kill vehicle technology development program;
(D) seeks to maximize, to the greatest extent practicable, commonality between subsystems of a next generation exo-atmospheric kill vehicle and other exo-atmospheric kill vehicle programs; and
(E) meets Department of Defense criteria, as established in the February 2010 Ballistic Missile Defense Review, for affordability, reliability, suitability, and operational effectiveness to defend against limited attacks from evolving and future threats from long-range missiles.
(2) EVALUATION OF PAYLOADS- The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include an evaluation of the potential benefits and drawbacks of options for both unitary and multiple exo-atmospheric kill vehicle payloads.
(3) STANDARD MISSILE-3 BLOCK IIB INTERCEPTOR- As part of the assessment required by paragraph (1), the Director shall evaluate whether there are potential options and opportunities arising from the standard missile-3 block IIB interceptor development program for development of an exo-atmospheric kill vehicle, or kill vehicle technologies or components, that could be used for potential upgrades to the ground-based interceptor or for a next generation exo-atmospheric kill vehicle.
(c) Report-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the plan developed under subsection (a), including the results of the assessment under subsection (b), and an estimate of the cost and schedule of implementing the plan.
(2) FORM- The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
