US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 4271

Program cost, fielding, and performance goals in planning major defense acquisition programs

(a)

Program Cost and Fielding Targets .—

(1)
Before funds are obligated for technology development, systems development, or production of a major defense acquisition program, the designated milestone decision authority for the program shall ensure, by establishing the goals described in paragraph (2), that the program will—
(A)
be affordable;
(B)
incorporate program planning that anticipates the evolution of capabilities to meet changing threats, technology insertion, and interoperability; and
(C)
be fielded when needed.
(2)
The goals described in this paragraph are goals for—
(A)
the procurement unit cost and sustainment cost (referred to in this section as the “program cost targets”);
(B)
the date for initial operational capability (referred to in this section as the “fielding target”); and
(C)
technology maturation, prototyping, and a modular open system approach to evolve system capabilities and improve interoperability.
(b)

Definitions .—

In this section:
(1)
section 4351(a)(2) of this title The term “procurement unit cost” has the meaning provided in .
(2)
section 4251(d)(1) of this title The term “initial capabilities document” has the meaning provided in .

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 807(a)(1)130 Stat. 2260Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 831(a)132 Stat. 1857Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1847(e)(1)134 Stat. 4256Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701o135 Stat. 2147(Added , , , § 2448a; amended , , ; renumbered § 4271 and amended , , ; ()(6)(C)(iv), , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1847(e)(1)section 2448a of this title2021—, renumbered as the section.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1847(e)(1)(A)Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701oSubsec. (b)(1). , as amended by ()(6)(C)(iv), substituted “section 4351(a)(2)” for “section 2432(a)(2)”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1847(e)(1)(B)Subsec. (b)(2). , substituted “section 4251(d)(1)” for “section 2366a(d)(2)”.

Pub. L. 115–232, § 831(a)(1)2018—Subsec. (a)(1). , (2), in introductory provisions, substituted “designated milestone decision authority for the program shall ensure, by establishing the goals described in paragraph (2), that the program” for “Secretary of Defense shall ensure, by establishing the goals described in paragraph (2), that the milestone decision authority for the major defense acquisition program approves a program that”.

Pub. L. 115–232, § 831(a)(3)Subsecs. (b), (c). , (4), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text of subsec. (b) read as follows: “The responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense in subsection (a) may be delegated only to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–81Pub. L. 116–283section 1701(a)(2) of Pub. L. 117–81section 3001 of this titleAmendment by applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of as enacted, see , set out in a note preceding and note below.

Pub. L. 116–283section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283section 3001 of this titleAmendment by effective , with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see , set out as a note preceding .

Effective Date

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 807(a)(2)130 Stat. 2261

10 U.S.C. 4271“[Former] Subchapter III of chapter 144B of title 10, United States Code [see , 4272], as added by paragraph (1), shall apply with respect to major defense acquisition programs that reach Milestone A after .”
, , , provided that:

Program Cost and Field Targets

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, § 925(b)130 Stat. 2361Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 831(b)(4)132 Stat. 1857section 4271 of this titlePub. L. 119–60, div. A, title VIII, § 811(b)(7)139 Stat. 948, , , as amended by , , , which required the establishment of a process to develop program cost and fielding targets pursuant to , was repealed by , , .

Configuration Steering Boards for Cost Control Under Major Defense Acquisition Programs

Pub. L. 110–417122 Stat. 4528Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, § 830129 Stat. 912Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VIII, § 826131 Stat. 1467Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 902(67)133 Stat. 1550Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title VIII, § 811(b)(14)(D)139 Stat. 949, [div. A], title VIII, § 814, , , as amended by , , ; , , ; , , , which required each Secretary of a military department to establish one or more Configuration Steering Boards for the major defense acquisition programs of such department, was repealed by , , .