Federal

United States-Israel Future of Warfare Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 1,182 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Secretary of Defense to create a new fund called the "United States-Israel Future of Warfare Research and Development Fund." The fund will pay for joint defense projects between the United States and Israel that focus on new technologies. These projects aim to help both countries' militaries handle emerging defense challenges.

Who It Affects

The Secretary of Defense and the Department of Defense will manage and administer the fund. The United States Armed Forces and Israeli military forces will potentially benefit from technologies developed through collaborative projects. The bill does not specify other affected groups or organizations.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of Defense must establish the "United States-Israel Future of Warfare Research and Development Fund" to conduct collaborative defense projects between the United States and Israel in emerging technology areas (Sec. 2(c)(1)) • Money in the fund can be used for joint defense projects in artificial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity, and directed energy technologies to help both militaries meet emerging defense challenges (Sec. 2(c)(2)) • Congress authorizes $50,000,000 per year for the fund for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 (Sec. 2(c)(3))

What Changes

If this becomes law, the Department of Defense will create a new dedicated fund for United States-Israel defense collaboration in emerging technologies. The fund will receive yearly appropriations (money set aside) starting in fiscal year 2024 through 2028.

Important Definitions

• "Emerging technologies" - new or developing technology areas including artificial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity, and directed energy (Sec. 2(c)(2))

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1777 To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a fund for the conduct of collaborative defense projects between the United States and Israel in emerging technologies, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 24, 2023 Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. GOLDEN of Maine, Mr. LAM- BORN, Mr. CROW, Mr. TURNER, and Mr. RYAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a fund for the conduct of collaborative defense projects between the United States and Israel in emerging technologies, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Israel 4 Future of Warfare Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:06 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1777.IH H1777 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 1777 IH SEC. 2. FUND FOR CONDUCT OF COLLABORATIVE DEFENSE 1 PROJECTS BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND 2 ISRAEL IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. 3 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 4 (1) The strategic partnership between the 5 United States and Israel is mutually beneficial, rein- 6 forcing shared moral values and security interests 7 while promoting peace and regional stability. 8 (2) A strong strategic relationship between the 9 United States and Israel, and enhanced bilateral co- 10 operation between such countries in defense, home- 11 land security, cybersecurity, space, and other key 12 areas, ensure both countries can confront current 13 and future emerging defense challenges. 14 (3) Israel is a global leader and innovator in 15 the development of defense technology and is one of 16 the closest foreign defense partners of the United 17 States. 18 (4) On September 14, 2016, the United States 19 and Israel signed a 10-year memorandum of under- 20 standing reaffirming the importance of continuing 21 annual United States military assistance to Israel 22 (and other defense programs in areas such as missile 23 defense, counter tunneling, and counter-unmanned 24 aircraft systems) in a way that enhances the security 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:06 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1777.IH H1777 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 1777 IH of Israel and strengthens the bilateral relationship 1 between the two countries. 2 (5) On July 12, 2022, President Joe Biden and 3 former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid committed 4 to elevating the strategic partnership between the 5 United States and Israel to new heights by launch- 6 ing the Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Tech- 7 nology, tasked with establishing a technological part- 8 nership between the United States and Israel with 9 respect to critical and emerging technologies and so- 10 lutions to global challenges. 11 (6) On July 14, 2022, President Joe Biden and 12 former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed a 13 joint declaration titled the ‘‘Jerusalem U.S.-Israel 14 Strategic Partnership Joint Declaration’’ reaffirming 15 the steadfast commitment of the United States to 16 strengthen the self-defense capability of Israel and 17 to ‘‘move forward the U.S.-Israel defense partner- 18 ship through cooperation in cutting-edge defense 19 technologies such as high energy laser weapons sys- 20 tems to defend the skies of Israel and in the future 21 those of other U.S. and Israel security partners’’. 22 (7) Since 2016, Congress has appropriated 23 $320,000,000 for counter-tunneling cooperation be- 24 tween the United States (specifically the Irregular 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:06 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1777.IH H1777 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 1777 IH Warfare Technical Support Directorate of the De- 1 partment of Defense) and Israel, resulting in the de- 2 velopment of counter-tunnel technology that en- 3 hances the capability of the United States and Israel 4 to deal with tunnel threats at the borders of such 5 countries and elsewhere. 6 (8) Since 2020, Congress has appropriated 7 $88,000,000 for counter-unmanned aircraft systems 8 cooperation between the United States (specifically 9 the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate 10 of the Department of Defense) and Israel, resulting 11 in the co-development of counter-unmanned aircraft 12 systems for use by the United States Armed Forces, 13 the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United 14 States Secret Service. 15 (9) In January 2023, the Irregular Warfare 16 Technical Support Directorate of the Department of 17 Defense awarded Israel Aerospace Industries a 18 multi-million dollar contract to rapidly develop and 19 deliver a loitering munition known as ‘‘ROC–X’’ to 20 provide ground-based tactical forces with more pre- 21 cise capabilities and improve the safety and security 22 of United States warfighters. 23 (10) Over the last few years, the Irregular War- 24 fare Technical Support Directorate of the Depart- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:06 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1777.IH H1777 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 5 •HR 1777 IH ment of Defense and the Directorate of Defense Re- 1 search and Engineering of the Ministry of Defense 2 of Israel hosted a competition known as the ‘‘MO- 3 SAIC Challenge’’, seeking cutting-edge hardware 4 and software solutions to address some of the chal- 5 lenging and longstanding technological gaps con- 6 cerning remote autonomous indoor maneuverability. 7 (b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 8 United States to support and encourage further defense 9 collaboration with Israel in areas of emerging technologies 10 capable of enabling the warfare capabilities of both the 11 United States and Israel to meet emerging defense chal- 12 lenges, including with respect to the areas of artificial in- 13 telligence, cybersecurity, directed energy, and automation. 14 (c) ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND.— 15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 16 shall establish a fund, to be known as the ‘‘United 17 States-Israel Future of Warfare Research and De- 18 velopment Fund’’ (in this section referred to as the 19 ‘‘Fund’’). 20 (2) USE OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts in the Fund 21 shall be available for the conduct of collaborative de- 22 fense projects between the United States and Israel 23 in areas of emerging technologies (including artifi- 24 cial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity, and di- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:06 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1777.IH H1777 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 6 •HR 1777 IH rected energy) for the purpose of enabling the 1 Armed Forces of the United States and of Israel, re- 2 spectively, to meet emerging defense challenges. 3 (3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 4 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund 5 $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 6 2028. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:06 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1777.IH H1777 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.