republic-os/legal/us/code/title-10/chapter-551/section-5536.md

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LegalText	10 U.S.C. § 5536	Testing and assessment of missile defense systems prior to production and deployment	us	united_states_code	code_section	10	ARMED FORCES	551	MISSILE DEFENSE	5536	10 U.S.C. § 5536	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc10@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t10/s5536	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-10/usc10.xml	e221c3e492cc925d7dabe58a2e1ca3bcd8637cfefe327fdc801231efb06c839d	06a2679d38355c44f4219c983fdad34009233205d6ba271593a4c1b17a739ec1	e84ccee610025486eaa3b4dba7fc068b7ef16a487811a8d67aa4b6ab01d2c0b4	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

10 U.S.C. § 5536 - Testing and assessment of missile defense systems prior to production and deployment

Text

(a) Successful Testing Required Prior to Final Production or Operational Deployment.— The Secretary of Defense may not make a final production decision for, or operationally deploy, a covered system unless—

(1) the Secretary ensures that—

(A) sufficient and operationally realistic testing of the covered system is conducted to assess the performance of the covered system in order to inform a final production decision or an operational deployment decision; and

(B) the results of such testing have demonstrated a high probability that the covered system—

(i) will work in an operationally effective manner; and

(ii) has the ability to accomplish the intended mission of the covered system; and

(2) the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation has carried out subsection (b) with respect to such covered system.

(b) Assessment by Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.— The Director of Operational Test and Evaluation shall—

(1) provide to the Secretary the assessment of the Director, based on the available test data, of the sufficiency, adequacy, and results of the testing of each covered system, including an assessment of whether the covered system will be sufficiently effective, suitable, and survivable when needed; and

(2) submit to the congressional defense committees a written summary of such assessment.

(c) Rule of Construction.— Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter, modify, or otherwise affect a determination of the Secretary with respect to the participation of the Missile Defense Agency in the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System or the acquisition reporting process under the Department of Defense Directive 5000 series, or to diminish the authority of the Secretary of Defense to deploy a missile defense system at the date on which the Secretary determines appropriate.

(d) Covered System.— In this section, the term “covered system” means a new or substantially upgraded interceptor or weapon system of the ballistic missile defense system.

(Added Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XVI, § 1649(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2197.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsA prior section 5536, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 319, related to extension of service by reason of time lost through misconduct or unauthorized absence, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 85–861, § 36B(13), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1571. See section 972(a) of this title. Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title XVI, § 1662, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3657, as amended by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, § 1677(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1774, which was set out in a note under section 4205 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XVI, § 1649(b)(9), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2199.