May 22, 2025
Mr. Cruz introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out an operational experimentation program to evaluate the military utility of optionally piloted vehicle rotary-wing aircraft, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Helicopter Operational Versatility and Enhanced Readiness Act of 2025
or the HOVER Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Operational experimentation program for optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) rotary-wing aircraft
(a) Operational experimentation program
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall establish an operational experimentation program using optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) technology, including such rotary-wing platforms as the Secretary determines suitable—
(1)
to evaluate the military utility of optionally piloted vehicle aircraft in contested environments;
(2)
to assess integration of such aircraft with crewed aircraft in multi-domain operations;
(3)
to analyze cost and maintenance benefits of autonomous flight;
(4)
to develop future tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for Army aviation; and
(5)
to complement and inform ongoing Army science and technology efforts relating to autonomy, such as the Autonomy for Combat Environment Sustainment (ACES), Mission Adaptive Autonomy (MAA), and the ALIAS transition agreement with the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
(b) Duration
The Secretary shall carry out the program required by subsection (a) during the two-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the program.
(c) Conversion
Under the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall convert at least three existing rotary-wing aircraft of the Army into optionally piloted vehicles.
(d) Special use airspace
The Secretary shall ensure that all testing and evaluation under the program required by subsection (a) is conducted in special use airspace of the Department of Defense.
(e) Program management
The Secretary shall carry out the program required by subsection (a) by acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology in coordination with the head of the Program Executive Office for Aviation.
(f) Partnerships
In carrying out the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary may collaborate with stakeholders in the United States defense industry, universities, and research institutions to advance optionally piloted vehicle technologies and integrate best practices to support rapid prototyping and ensure interoperability with broader Joint All-Domain Operations initiatives.
(g) Report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report detailing—
(1)
progress on the conversion required by subsection (c) and experimentation efforts under the program required by subsection (a);
(2)
initial findings of the Secretary with respect to the program on operational efficiency, cost savings, and effectiveness; and
(3)
recommendations for potential future procurement of optionally piloted vehicle platforms.
(h) Implementation flexibility
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the Secretary to adjust the scope, platform selection, or methodology of experimentation to ensure alignment with existing service priorities and long-term modernization objectives.