Require the Secretary of the Army to implement a program to enhance robotic automation in munitions manufacturing at government-owned, contractor-operated facilities. Include objectives such as designing safe, scalable robotic systems for munitions production, increasing production capacity, developing secure cyber infrastructure for integrating factory operations, and supporting workforce training in robotics and advanced manufacturing. Coordinate with the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition and other relevant Army components during program execution. Require a briefing to congressional defense committees by March 1, 2026, detailing program progress, lessons learned, and recommendations for broader adoption of robotic automation technologies in the defense sector.
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FY2026 NDAA, Section 225 ("Advanced robotic automation for munitions manufacturing")
ETO AGORA · NDAA provisions · 2025
Summary
Require the Secretary of the Army to implement a program to enhance robotic automation in munitions manufacturing at government-owned, contractor-operated facilities.
Include objectives such as designing safe, scalable robotic systems for munitions production, increasing production capacity, developing secure cyber infrastructure for integrating factory operations, and supporting workforce training in robotics and advanced manufacturing.
Coordinate with the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition and other relevant Army components during program execution.
Require a briefing to congressional defense committees by March 1, 2026, detailing program progress, lessons learned, and recommendations for broader adoption of robotic automation technologies in the defense sector.
Requires the Secretary of the Army to enhance robotic automation in munitions manufacturing facilities.
SEC. 225. ADVANCED ROBOTIC AUTOMATION FOR MUNITIONS MANUFACTURING. (a) Program Required.--The Secretary of the Army shall carry out a program to support the maturation and expansion of robotic automation capabilities for munitions manufacturing at government-owned, contractor-operated production facilities. (b) Objectives.--The objectives of the program under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) The design and integration of inherently safe, scalable robotic load, assemble, and pack (LAP) systems for munitions production. (2) The demonstration of increased throughput and production capacity, while reducing manual handling of energetic materials. (3) The development of cyber-hardened data infrastructure for secure integration of factory-floor operations with enterprise systems. (4) Support for workforce upskilling and training in robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing technologies. (5) The evaluation of applicability across multiple munition types and organic industrial base sites.
Requires the Secretary of the Army to brief Congress on robotic automation in defense by March 1, 2026.
(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army shall coordinate with the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition and other relevant components of the Department of the Army. (d) Briefing.--Not later than March 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Army shall provide the congressional defense committees a briefing on the program carried out under subsection (a). Such briefing shall cover-- (1) the progress made under the program; (2) lessons learned; and (3) recommendations for the wider adoption of robotic automation technologies within the defense industrial base.