WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 4711

Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jacky Rosen and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a U.S.–Ukraine group to co-develop, co-produce, and acquire Ukraine-designed unmanned systems, boosting fast-track defense collaboration and shared supply chains.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4711

Summary of S. 4711 — Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a United States–Ukraine Strategic Defense Innovation Working Group to explore and advance co-development, co-production, acquisition, and transfer of Ukraine-designed, unmanned systems (referred to as “covered systems”) and related technology transfer frameworks.
  • Aims to accelerate adoption of Ukraine-designed capabilities into U.S. defense programs and to build a mutual defense tech collaboration with Ukraine.

Key definitions

  • Covered system: An unmanned system designed for a limited number of missions, expendable in high-threat environments, and low per-unit cost relative to its targets. Includes enabling software/hardware, unmanned aerial/underwater/surface vehicles, counter-UAS capabilities (e.g., early warning, jamming, interceptors), and command-and-control infrastructure to operate and counter unmanned systems.
  • Includes both the systems themselves and the associated software/hardware to operate and counter them.

Establishment and structure of the Working Group (WG)

  • Establishment timeline: Not later than 90 days after enactment, the Secretary of Defense (in coordination with the Secretary of State) should engage Ukraine stakeholders to form the Working Group.
  • Co-chairs:
    • Under Secretary of Defense
    • Director of the Defense Innovation Unit
    • Director of the Joint Interagency Task Force 401
    • Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
    • Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command
  • Other participants: Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and military forces, the Brave1 Defense Tech Cluster, and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center.
  • Meetings: WG must meet at least every 120 days, with frequency set by the co-chairs in consultation with participants.

Duties and responsibilities of the WG

  • Systematically analyze and apply Ukraine’s methodologies to speed up development, production, and fielding of covered systems within the U.S. and in collaboration with Ukraine.
  • Identify Ukraine-designed covered systems with high combat utility and potential to enhance U.S. capabilities; advise on expanding Ukraine assets within Blue UAS programs.
  • Develop defense trade frameworks, including:
    • Mutual technology transfer framework with secure data exchange protocols (telemetry and related battlefield data).
    • Joint IP ownership frameworks that protect participants’ background IP and enable co-development/co-production.
    • Memorandum of understanding on reciprocal defense procurement.
  • Assess feasibility of testing U.S.-manufactured covered systems in Ukraine by deploying them to Ukrainian units for evaluation.

Prioritization and implementation (Section 5)

  • Prioritization: Co-chairs must prioritize Ukraine-designed covered systems for co-development, co-production, and acquisition; assess alignment with U.S. fielding requirements and potential authorities to accelerate ventures and procurement.
  • Feasibility and costs: Analyze required authorities, speed up pathways (joint ventures, cooperative production, licensed production), and conduct supply-chain analyses; identify cost implications and scale-up steps in the U.S., including leveraging civilian manufacturing capacity.
  • Remediation pathway: For Ukraine-designed systems not meeting current U.S. fielding statutes, explore alternative routes such as SkyFoundry, the UAS Marketplace, or Drone Dominance to achieve fielding.

Reports and briefings (Section 6)

  • Initial briefing: Within 120 days of enactment, WG must brief congressional defense committees on the initial strategy for co-development/co-production/acquisition.
  • Semiannual updates: Every 180 days thereafter (for up to five years unless extended) the WG must report progress, including:
    • Prioritized Ukraine-designed covered systems and their status (technical/legal evaluation, certification, integration with U.S. needs).
    • Fast-track authorities and potential regulatory or policy waivers.
    • Supply-chain analysis to reduce dependence on “countries of concern” (e.g., Russia, China, Iran, North Korea).
    • Frameworks for transitioning prioritized systems to co-development/production at scale (possible structures: joint ventures, cooperative or licensed production).
    • Intellectual property ownership frameworks for joint development.
    • Regulatory, export-control, and certification barriers hindering acquisition or partnerships.

Termination (Section 7)

  • Duration: The WG generally terminates five years after enactment.
  • Extension: A one-year extension can be granted if the Secretary determines it is vital to national security and provides a written justification to the congressional defense committees; extension would end six years after enactment.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Creates an organized channel for U.S.–Ukraine collaboration on low-cost, expendable unmanned systems with hardened cyber/physical security and co-production potential.
  • Seeks to diversify supply chains away from dependency on certain adversarial or concern countries by emphasizing local production capabilities and joint procurement.
  • Introduces mechanisms for rapid procurement and regulatory waivers to accelerate fielding, while addressing IP, data sharing, and sovereignty concerns.
  • Establishes ongoing oversight to Congress through structured, semiannual reporting.

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

Sign in to ask a question.