---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 231a"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "231a"
heading: "Budgeting for life-cycle costs of aircraft for the Army, Navy, and Air Force: annual plan and certification"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/231a"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part I — Organization and General Military Powers"
  - "Chapter 9 — Defense Budget Matters"
---

# §231a. Budgeting for life-cycle costs of aircraft for the Army, Navy, and Air Force: annual plan and certification

- (a) **Annual Aircraft Procurement Plan and Certification.—** Not later than 30 days after the date on which the President submits to Congress the budget for a fiscal year, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall submit to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) the following:
  - (1) A plan for the [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) of the aircraft specified in [subsection (b)](#b) for each of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Army, the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Navy, and the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force developed in accordance with this section.
  - (2) A certification by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) that both the budget for such fiscal year and the future-years defense [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) submitted to Congress in relation to such budget under [section 221 of this title](/usc/10/221.md) provide for funding of the [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) of aircraft at a level that is sufficient for the [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) of the aircraft provided for in the plan under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) on the schedule provided in the plan.
- (b) **Covered Aircraft.—** The aircraft specified in this subsection are the aircraft as follows:
  - (1) Fighter aircraft.
  - (2) Attack aircraft.
  - (3) Bomber aircraft.
  - (4) Intertheater lift aircraft.
  - (5) Intratheater lift aircraft.
  - (6) Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft.
  - (7) Tanker aircraft.
  - (8) Remotely piloted aircraft.
  - (9) Rotary-wing aircraft.
  - (10) Operational support and executive lift aircraft.
  - (11) Any other major support aircraft designated by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense for purposes of this section.
- (c) **Annual Aircraft Procurement Plan.—**
  - (1) The annual aircraft [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) plan developed for a fiscal year for purposes of [subsection (a)](#a) should be designed so that the aviation force provided for under the plan is capable of supporting the national [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) strategy of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) as set forth in the most recent National Defense Strategy submitted under [section 113(g) of this title](/usc/10/113.md?p=g) and the most recent National [Military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) Strategy submitted under [section 153(b) of this title](/usc/10/153.md?p=b).
  - (2) Each annual aircraft [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) plan shall include the following:
    - (A) A detailed [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) for the [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) of the aircraft specified in [subsection (b)](#b) for each of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Army, the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Navy, and the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force over the next 15 fiscal years.
    - (B) A description of the aviation force structure necessary to meet the requirements of the national [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) strategy of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).
    - (C) The estimated levels of annual investment funding necessary to carry out each aircraft [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), together with a discussion of the [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) strategies on which such estimated levels of annual investment funding are based, set forth in aggregate for the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense and in aggregate for each [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6).
    - (D) The estimated level of annual funding necessary to operate, maintain, sustain, and support each aircraft [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) throughout the life-cycle of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), set forth in aggregate for the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense and in aggregate for each [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6).
    - (E) For each of the cost estimates required by subparagraphs [(C)](#c-2-C) and [(D)](#c-2-D)—
      - (i) a description of whether the cost estimate is derived from the cost estimate position of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned or from the cost estimate position of the Office of Cost Assessment and [Program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) Evaluation;
      - (ii) if the cost estimate position of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and the cost estimate position of the Office of Cost Assessment and [Program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) Evaluation differ by more than 5 percent for any aircraft [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), an annotated cost estimate difference and sufficient rationale to explain the difference;
      - (iii) the confidence or certainty level associated with the cost estimate for each aircraft [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1); and
      - (iv) a certification that the calculations from which the cost estimate is derived are based on common cost categories used by the Under [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment for calculating the life-cycle cost of an aircraft [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
    - (F) An assessment by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense of the extent to which the combined aircraft forces of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Army, the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Navy, and the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force meet the [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) requirements of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).
  - (3) For any cost estimate required by subparagraph [(C)](#c-2-C) or [(D)](#c-2-D) of paragraph (2) for any aircraft [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) for which the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) is required to include in a report under [section 4351 of this title](/usc/10/4351.md), the source of the cost information used to prepare the annual aircraft plan shall be derived from the Selected Acquisition Report data that the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) plans to submit to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) in accordance with [subsection (f)](/usc/10/4351.md?p=f) of that section for the year for which the annual aircraft [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) plan is prepared.
  - (4) Each annual aircraft [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) plan shall be submitted in unclassified form, and shall contain a classified annex. A summary version of the unclassified report shall be made available to the public.
- (d) **Assessment When Aircraft Procurement Budget Is Insufficient to Meet Applicable Requirements.—** If the budget for any fiscal year provides for funding of the [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) of aircraft for the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Army, the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Navy, or the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force at a level that is not sufficient to sustain the aviation force structure specified in the aircraft [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) plan for such [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) for that fiscal year under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall include with the defense budget materials for that fiscal year an assessment that describes the funding shortfall and discusses the risks associated with the reduced force structure of aircraft that will result from funding aircraft [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) at such level. The assessment shall be coordinated in advance with the commanders of the combatant commands.
- (e) **Annual Report on Aircraft Inventory.—**
  - (1) As part of the annual plan and certification required to be submitted under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall include a report on the aircraft in the inventory of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense.
  - (2) Each report under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall include for the year covered by such report, the following:
    - (A) The total number of aircraft in the inventory.
    - (B) The total number of the aircraft in the inventory that are active, stated in the following categories (with appropriate subcategories for mission aircraft, [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) aircraft, dedicated test aircraft, and other aircraft):
      - (i) Primary aircraft.
      - (ii) Backup aircraft.
      - (iii) Attrition and reconstitution [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) aircraft.
    - (C) The total number of the aircraft in the inventory that are inactive, stated in the following categories:
      - (i) Bailment aircraft.
      - (ii) Drone aircraft.
      - (iii) Aircraft for sale or other transfer to foreign governments.
      - (iv) Leased or loaned aircraft.
      - (v) Aircraft for maintenance [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9).
      - (vi) Aircraft for reclamation.
      - (vii) Aircraft in storage.
    - (D) The aircraft inventory requirements approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  - (3) Each report under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall set forth each item specified in [paragraph (2)](#e-2) separately for the [regular](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-12) [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) of each armed force and for each [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) of each armed force and, for each such [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13), shall set forth each type, model, and series of aircraft provided for in the future-years defense [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) that covers the fiscal year for which the budget accompanying the plan, certification and report is submitted.
- (f) **Budget Defined.—** In this section, the term “budget” means the budget of the President for a fiscal year as submitted to Congress pursuant to [section 1105 of title 31](/usc/31/1105.md).

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title I, § 151(a), title XVIII, § 1883(b)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3437, 4294; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(6), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1919.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 231a, added Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title I, § 141(a), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4379; amended Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title X, § 1069(a), (b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1589, 1591; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title X, § 1091(a)(5), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 875; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, § 1071(c)(2), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3508; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title I, § 137, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2039, set forth provisions providing for the annual budgeting for life-cycle cost of specified aircraft for the Navy, Army, and Air Force, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 813(a)(1)(A), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1851.

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1883(b)(2), substituted “section 4351” for “section 2432”.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “include” for “include the following,” in introductory provisions.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by section 1883(b)(2) of Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.