S990-118

What This Bill Does
This bill requires the Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to identify weaknesses in America's airspace monitoring capabilities. The analysis must specifically examine vulnerabilities that foreign countries could use to sneak aircraft into U.S. or Canadian airspace without detection, and NORAD must report the findings to Congress within 90 days.

Who Benefits and How
Defense contractors and aerospace surveillance companies stand to benefit from this bill. Once NORAD identifies gaps in radar coverage, satellite monitoring, or detection systems, the Department of Defense will likely need to purchase new equipment and technology to fill those gaps. Companies that make advanced radar systems, aerospace sensors, and surveillance technology could see increased government contracts.

Who Bears the Burden and How
NORAD commanders and Department of Defense analysts bear the immediate burden of conducting this comprehensive gap analysis within a tight 90-day deadline. This requires dedicating staff time, resources, and potentially classified information gathering to prepare the congressional report. U.S. taxpayers may ultimately bear costs if the gap analysis leads to major procurement programs.

Key Provisions
- Mandates a comprehensive gap analysis of all NORAD capabilities for detecting aircraft
- Focuses specifically on vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries could exploit to enter North American airspace undetected
- Sets a strict 90-day deadline for NORAD to complete the analysis and deliver results
- Requires submission of findings to both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees
- Does not authorize specific funding but creates pressure for future defense appropriations to address identified gaps