HASC "believes that directed energy technology has matured to the point where it may be successfully deployed against current rocket, artillery, mortar, and cruise missile threats," read one NDAA amendment.
After a directive confused some lawmakers, a provision in the NDAA threatens to nullify a potential shake-up of the Army's acquisition bureaucracy if representatives don't receive additional information about who's doing what.
During a marathon markup session that started on Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment that would add $37 billion to the defense topline.
Although lawmakers repeatedly said their position wasn't meant to favor a particular company, in some respects the debate was held over parochial lines, as some of the most outspoken had interests in their districts.
Bill provides billions more than in FY22, buying F-35s, tanks and eight new ships, but is well below what other lawmakers appear to have in mind.
The House Armed Services Committee would require Space Force to establish specific requirements for satellite protection prior to starting any major new acquisition program.
"The Space Force's ambitious plans for new architectures, programs, and mission areas, do not appear to be backed up with credible budget projections in the outyears to actually deliver these capabilities," House defense appropriators chide in report language accompanying their FY23 spending bill.
Staffers briefing reporters ahead of the release emphasized a focus on the health of the munitions industrial base.
The Senate Armed Services Committee's proposed topline figure would increase the already-historic Pentagon spending plan proposed by the Biden administration.
"It's very, very tempting to continue to spend money on technologies that are 10 years old because we've gotten comfortable with them," Army CIO Raj Iyer said. "That's not what's going to help us fight and win...for the Army of 2030."
The subcommittee is "encouraging the use of commercially available data" to help fill ISR gaps identified by military commanders, but there's also has concerns about overlap in acquisition of commercial ISR.
Lawmakers want to mandate the maintenance and modernization plan's annual delivery.
From Javelins to high-altitude ISR, the HASC tactical air and land subcommittee offers a view into lawmaker's tactical concerns.
The Navy faces an uphill battle on trying to retire nine Littoral Combat Ships, but where will those vessels go after leaving the fleet?