PUBLIC LAW 101-189—NOV. 29, 1989 103 STAT. 1379 program required by paragraph (1). The plan shall include the following: (A) The planned test schedule for each of the various compo- nents of the defensive avionics system of the B-IB aircraft, to be tested both singly and in combination with other components of the defensive and offensive avionics systems for the aircraft. (B) The objectives of each of the planned tests and the criteria that will be used to determine whether each such test is success- ful, partially successful, or unsuccessful. (C) An explanation of how those scheduled tests can be used to estimate the capability of the B-IB aircraft to penetrate air defenses of the Soviet Union, including both single and multiple air defense threats. (c) MODIFICATIONS TO B-IB AIRCRAFT. -;-(1) The Secretary of the Air Force may modify not more than six B-IB aircraft to incor- porate the B-IB avionics modifications. (2) The aircraft that are so modified shall be used to conduct the test program required by subsection 0)). The test program shall be carried out in accordance with the plan submitted under subsection (b)(3). (3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), no B-IB aircraft other than those modified pursuant to paragraph (1) may be modified to incorporate the B-IB avionics modifications until the test program required by subsection (b) is completed. (4) The Secretary may modify the avionics systems of the first 19 B-IB production aircraft to bring those aircraft to the current avionics configuration of the balance of the B-IB fleet. (d) BIMONTHLY STATUS REPORTS. — (1) The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report every two months with respect to the test program under subsection (b). Each such report shall indicate whether the tests scheduled in the test plan to be carried out after the date of the submission of the preceding report under this subsection— (A) have been carried out as scheduled and otherwise in accordance with the test plan; and (B) whether, in the case of each such test, the test was successful, partially successful, or unsuccessful. (2) The Secretary shall include in each such report an assessment of the capability of the B-IB aircraft to meet— (A) performance objectives; (B) technical and fiscal objectives; and (C) significant test milestones. (3) The first such bimonthly report shall be submitted February 1, 1990. The requirement for the submission of such reports shall cease to apply when the test program required by this section is completed. (e) INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT BY OUTSIDE PANEL. —(1) Following completion of the test program under subsection (b)(l), the Secretary of Defense shall provide for an independent assessment of the capabilities of the B-IB aircraft to penetrate air defenses of the Soviet Union. The Secretary shall appoint a panel of experts from the private sector to conduct the assessment and shall provide the panel with such resources as are necessary, including technic£d assistance by private contractors, to assist the panel in conducting the assessment. Individuals appointed to the panel shall be independent of the Air Force and shall have no arrangements with the Air Force that would constitute a conflict of interest.
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