WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. lawmakers are pushing for more money to support the Pentagon\u2019s Joint All-Domain Command and Control endeavor and the creation of a related headquarters in the Indo-Pacific, as well as for critical technology including microelectronics and hypersonics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The provisions were included in the Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s version of the fiscal year 2023 defense policy bill, according to a 30-page summary<\/a> released June 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislation, sporting an $847 billion top line, recommends an additional $245 million for JADC2, the Department of Defense vision for unrestrained communications and rapid data sharing across land, air, sea, space and cyber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exactly how much has been spent on JADC2 and its components \u2014 the Army\u2019s Project Convergence, the Air Force\u2019s Advanced Battle Management System and the Navy\u2019s Project Overmatch \u2014 is unclear, as the massive effort sprawls into classified space and is not defined by a singular line item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Members of a House cyber subcommittee this month sought an audit of JADC2 progress and price tags<\/a>, as well as updates from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. No overall cost estimate for JADC2 had been formulated as of mid-March, when the Pentagon issued a public strategy for the initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Senate measure further calls for the \u201cestablishment of a Joint Force Headquarters in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, effects chain and mission-based command and control experimentation\u201d and \u201cnovel kill chain development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The central hub for JADC2 would be due by October 2024. An implementation plan would be required prior, according to the bill, now headed to the Senate floor. The JADC2 Cross-Functional Team<\/a> would remain under the purview of the Joint Chiefs of Staff J-6 director for command, control, communications, computers and cyber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bill also includes \u201csignificant funding increases\u201d and reporting requirements for microelectronics, hypersonic weapons and artificial intelligence, though the summary doesn\u2019t tally the proposed funding growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\t