
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 10USC486]

 
                         TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
 
                    Subtitle A--General Military Law
 
            PART I--ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS
 
              CHAPTER 23--MISCELLANEOUS STUDIES AND REPORTS
 
Sec. 486. Quadrennial report on emerging operational concepts

    (a) Quadrennial Report Required.--Not later than March 1 of each 
year evenly divisible by four, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives a report on emerging 
operational concepts. Each such report shall be prepared by the 
Secretary in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff.
    (b) Content of Report Relating to DoD Processes.--Each such report 
shall contain a description, for the four years preceding the year in 
which the report is submitted, of the following:
        (1) The process undertaken in the Department of Defense, and in 
    each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, to define and 
    develop doctrine, operational concepts, organizational concepts, and 
    acquisition strategies to address--
            (A) the potential of emerging technologies for significantly 
        improving the operational effectiveness of the armed forces;
            (B) changes in the international order that may necessitate 
        changes in the operational capabilities of the armed forces;
            (C) emerging capabilities of potential adversary states; and
            (D) changes in defense budget projections.

        (2) The manner in which the processes described in paragraph (1) 
    are harmonized to ensure that there is a sufficient consideration of 
    the development of joint doctrine, operational concepts, and 
    acquisition strategies.
        (3) The manner in which the processes described in paragraph (1) 
    are coordinated through the Joint Requirements Oversight Council and 
    reflected in the planning, programming, and budgeting process of the 
    Department of Defense.

    (c) Content of Report Relating to Identification of Technological 
Objectives for Research and Development.--Each report under this section 
shall set forth the military capabilities that are necessary for meeting 
national security requirements over the next two to three decades, 
including--
        (1) the most significant strategic and operational capabilities 
    (including both armed force-specific and joint capabilities) that 
    are necessary for the armed forces to prevail against the most 
    dangerous threats, including asymmetrical threats, that could be 
    posed to the national security interests of the United States by 
    potential adversaries from 20 to 30 years in the future;
        (2) the key characteristics and capabilities of future military 
    systems (including both armed force-specific and joint systems) that 
    will be needed to meet each such threat; and
        (3) the most significant research and development challenges 
    that must be met, and the technological breakthroughs that must be 
    made, to develop and field such systems.

(Added Pub. L. 106-65, div. A, title II, Sec. 241(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 
113 Stat. 549.)
