This bill establishes a U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Defense Innovation Working Group to jointly develop, acquire, and transfer unmanned defense systems and related technology, prioritizing Ukrainian-designed systems for co-production.
Jacky Rosen
Senator
NV
This bill, the **Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act**, establishes a U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Defense Innovation Working Group. The group will focus on jointly developing, producing, and acquiring specific unmanned defense systems and related technologies. It mandates analyzing Ukrainian combat experience to accelerate the integration of effective Ukrainian-designed systems into U.S. defense capabilities. The legislation also requires developing frameworks for technology sharing and reciprocal defense procurement between the two nations.
Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act: US and Ukraine to Jointly Build and Test Combat Drones Starting in 2025
The Strategic Unmanned Systems Partnership Act creates a high-level defense brain trust called the Strategic Defense Innovation Working Group. Within 90 days, the Department of Defense must team up with Ukrainian officials to fast-track the development and production of 'covered systems'—essentially the cheap, expendable drones and jamming tech that have become the backbone of modern warfare. This isn't just a talk shop; it’s a formal pipeline to identify Ukrainian tech that works on the battlefield and figure out how to build it at scale right here in the U.S.
From Battlefield to Assembly Line
The bill focuses on 'covered systems,' which are defined in Section 2 as low-cost, expendable unmanned vehicles (aerial, underwater, and surface) and the software that runs them. For a software engineer in Virginia or a machinist in Ohio, this could mean new opportunities as the bill requires the Pentagon to map out exactly how to move these designs into large-scale U.S. production. Section 5 specifically tasks officials with finding ways to use 'civilian manufacturing expertise' to fix production bottlenecks. This means the tech used to build your high-end mountain bike or smart home gadgets might soon be tapped to help churn out defensive drones.
The Combat Lab
One of the most striking parts of this bill is Section 4, which explores the feasibility of testing U.S.-made tech in active combat scenarios in Ukraine. For the tech sector, this is like moving from a simulated beta test to a high-stakes, real-world launch. The goal is to get immediate feedback on what works and what doesn't, potentially saving years of R&D time back home. To keep things moving, the group will meet every 120 days to cut through the usual red tape that slows down military procurement.
Protecting the Secret Sauce
Because this involves sharing sensitive tech, the bill sets up a framework for 'joint intellectual property ownership' and secure data exchange. It’s essentially a legal prenup for defense tech, ensuring that if a U.S. company and a Ukrainian startup co-develop a new jamming signal, both sides know who owns what (Section 4). While this sounds technical, it’s vital for ensuring that American innovation stays protected while still allowing us to benefit from the 'lessons learned' on the front lines. The bill also mandates a supply chain scrub to make sure these new drones aren't relying on parts from Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea.