WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 5342

A bill to require a report on the advisability and feasibility of establishing a Drone Center of Excellence within the Army National Guard.

119th Congress Introduced by Elissa Slotkin

The bill requires a 180-day Army-wide report assessing whether a Drone Center of Excellence for the Army National Guard at a National Guard site is advisable, feasible, and how it

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5342

Overview

S.5342 (119th Congress) proposes a congressional requirement for a government report evaluating the advisability and feasibility of establishing a Drone Center of Excellence within the Army National Guard. The bill was introduced by Senator Elissa Slotkin on August 6, 2026 and referred to the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

Purpose and Intent

  • To determine whether creating a Drone Center of Excellence (COE) at a National Guard training site is advisable and feasible.
  • The report would inform decision-makers about potential organizational, operational, and resource implications of such a center.

Key Provisions

  • General requirement: The Secretary of the Army must submit, within 180 days after enactment, a report to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services.
  • Scope of analysis: The report must assess the advisability and feasibility of establishing a Drone Center of Excellence within the Army National Guard at a National Guard training site.
  • Functions to be evaluated at the potential COE (as part of the consideration):
    1. Certification of unmanned aerial system (UAS) operators during annual training periods.
    2. Development of doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures for operating UAS.
    3. Experimentation on integrating artificial intelligence applications for target recognition and real-time situational awareness in UAS operations.
    4. Conduct of force-on-force UAS exercises, including brigade-level “drone wars” experiments integrated with infantry, armor, and joint formations.

Who or What Would Be Affected

  • Army National Guard units and personnel involved in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations.
  • National Guard training sites hosting the proposed COE.
  • Stakeholders evaluating modernization and integration of drone capabilities, AI in targeting and situational awareness, and combined arms exercises.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Timing: The Secretary of the Army must deliver the required report no later than 180 days after enactment.
  • Reporting recipients: The report is to be submitted to both the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services.
  • Status: Introduced in the Senate; referred to the Committee on Armed Services for consideration.

Potential Impact

  • The bill would not create a COE directly but would trigger a formal assessment process to determine feasibility and desirability.
  • Findings could inform future legislation, budget requests, and National Guard modernization efforts related to drone capabilities, AI integration, and joint-force training.
  • If feasible, the report could pave the way for a pilot or formal establishment of a Drone Center of Excellence within the Army National Guard; if not feasible, it could lead to alternative recommendations for UAS training and integration.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.