Defense Production Act Title III Presidential Determination for Airbreathing Engines, Advanced Avionics Position Navigation and Guidance Systems, and Constituent Materials for Hypersonic Systems
President Joe Biden signed a presidential determination (PD) authorizing the use of Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III authorities to rebuild and expand the nation's domestic hypersonics industrial base. The authority specifically targets air-breathing engines, advanced avionics, guidance systems, as well as constituent materials for hypersonic systems.
The Department of Defense is leveraging this authority to strategically accelerate the transition of operational prototypes and advanced manufacturing technologies across the spectrum of airbreathing engines and advanced avionics position, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems. Kinetic capabilities, including those for hypersonic systems, were one of the key focus areas in President Biden's Executive Order 14017, "America's Supply Chains." The efforts executed under these authorities will be part of a larger DoD strategy to ensure the United States' preeminence in these game changing technologies as well as partnership with allied nations seeking similar capabilities.
The PD allows the Office of Defense Production Act Investments (DPAI), part of the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) office, to leverage DPA Title III purchases and purchase commitments to support the modernization and expansion of the hypersonics industrial base.
"The Department of Defense's DPAI Office continues to deliver on its mission of reshoring and re-establishing domestic production in sectors critical to our nation's national security needs and strategic interests," said Anthony Di Stasio, Director of the MCEIP office. "We are pleased and excited that the President is allowing us the opportunity to act on behalf of the nation to accelerate the advancement of hypersonics capabilities in the United States. These investments will lead to new training and job opportunities for American citizens in facilities across the country."
Applications for funding related to the above authority may be submitted through the DPA Title III Open Funding Opportunity Announcement.
About the Department of Defense's Defense Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization Office:
The mission of the MCEIP office is to prioritize and address supply chain and industrial challenges identified by the DoD and other stakeholders. The office determines appropriate authorities to address critical shortfalls, and through prioritization, incentivization, and resource allocation, MCEIP supports domestic industry with direct engagements and investments.
