FLRAA Production Acceleration Act of 2025
The FLRAA Production Acceleration Act of 2025 would authorize the Secretary of the Army to begin early, low-rate production of up to 24 future long range assault aircraft (FLRAA) before full-rate production commences. This is intended as an accelerated procurement path to get capabilities to the warfighter sooner, while preserving learning from testing, sustaining the specialized workforce and the broader industrial base (including suppliers and production facilities in Texas, Kansas, and other states), and helping manage life-cycle costs. The bill emphasizes flexibility in design through modular open systems architecture and a digital backbone to support future upgrades and improvements. The act also requires a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment detailing the implementation plan, the readiness of the industrial base and supply chain, and estimated long-term cost savings and operational benefits from the early production effort.
Key Points
- 1The Secretary of the Army may enter into contracts for the procurement of up to 24 FLRAA aircraft as part of an accelerated, low-rate early production effort, prior to full-rate production.
- 2Objectives of the early production include: speeding delivery to the warfighter, maintaining continuity from test articles to full production, stabilizing the specialized workforce and industrial base (including suppliers and facilities in Texas, Kansas, and other states), and mitigating cost escalation to improve lifecycle affordability.
- 3The Secretary must consider: prioritizing program continuity, cost-efficiency, and workforce retention; ensuring aircraft reflect lessons learned from testing; and maintaining design flexibility via modular open systems architecture and a digital backbone for future upgrades.
- 4A report to Congress is due within 180 days of enactment, covering the implementation plan and timeline, industrial base readiness and supply chain coordination, and estimated long-term cost savings and operational benefits.
- 5The bill explicitly focuses on accelerating capability delivery while protecting procurement quality and the ability to upgrade the aircraft over time.