H.R. 7613, ALERT Act

April 14, 2026

Cost Estimate

As reported by the House Committee on Armed Services on April 9, 2026

At a Glance H.R. 7613, ALERT Act As reported by the House Committee on Armed Services on April 9, 2026
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars		2026	2026-2031	2026-2036
Direct Spending (Outlays)		0	0	0
Revenues		0	0	0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit		0	0	0
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)		89	6,410	not estimated
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037?	No	Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?		No
	No	Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037?	No	Contains intergovernmental mandate?		No
	No	Contains private-sector mandate?		No
The bill would Require the Department of Defense (DoD) to install collision-prevention systems on certain aircraft and to regularly inspect and maintain some of those systems Require DoD to take several measures to further the safe operation of DoD aircraft in U.S. airspace Require DoD and the Department of Transportation to coordinate the operation of DoD aircraft in U.S. airspace Require several reports on aviation safety and on the implementation of the bill
Estimated budgetary effects would mainly stem from Procuring and installing collision-prevention systems on DoD aircraft Inspecting and maintaining collision-prevention systems installed on DoD aircraft Implementing the safety-related activities required by the bill Reporting to the Congress on several matters
Areas of significant uncertainty include Estimating the number and types of DoD aircraft that the department would exempt from the requirements of the bill Assessing the availability and cost of portable and integrated collision-prevention systems that would meet DoD specifications Anticipating the manner and extent to which DoD would implement the safety-related activities required by the bill

Bill Summary

H.R. 7613 would require the Department of Defense (DoD) to install collision-prevention systems on most of its transport, training, and rotary-wing aircraft. Additionally, the bill would require DoD to enhance the safety of its aircraft operations in U.S. airspace. Finally, the bill would require several reports.

Estimated Federal Cost

The estimated budgetary effects of H.R. 7613 are shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget functions 050 (national defense), 400 (transportation), and 800 (general government).

Table 1. Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 7613
	By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030	2031	2026-2031
	Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation
Collision-Prevention Systems
Estimated Authorization	5,525	365	370	375	380	390	7,405
Estimated Outlays	85	1,120	2,345	1,430	820	550	6,350
Aviation Safety Improvements
Estimated Authorization	4	22	7	7	8	9	57
Estimated Outlays	4	22	7	7	8	9	57
Reports
Estimated Authorization	*	2	1	*	*	*	3
Estimated Outlays	*	2	1	*	*	*	3
Total Changes
Estimated Authorization	5,529	389	378	382	388	399	7,465
Estimated Outlays	89	1,144	2,353	1,437	828	559	6,410
* = between zero and $500,000. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 7613 would not affect direct spending or revenues.

Basis of Estimate

For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 7613 will be enacted in fiscal year 2026. Outlay estimates are based on historical spending patterns for existing or similar programs.

Spending Subject to Appropriation

CBO estimates that satisfying the bill’s requirements would cost $6.4 billion over the 2026‑2031 period (see Table 1). Such spending would be subject to appropriation of the estimated amounts.

Collision-Prevention Systems. The bill would require DoD to equip most transport, training, and rotary-wing aircraft with collision-prevention systems. Such technology provides flight crews with the location of nearby aircraft and other air traffic information (referred to as “ADS‑B In” systems). Rotary-wing aircraft operating in U.S. airspace also would need to be equipped with systems that transmit their position, speed, and other identifying information (referred to as “ADS‑B Out” systems).

Within one year of enactment, the bill would require DoD to equip aircraft with temporary systems such as portable devices. By December 31, 2031, DoD would be required to install permanent systems with integrated cockpit displays.

DoD would not be required to install those systems on fighters, bombers, or unmanned aircraft, nor would those systems be required for aircraft that are scheduled to be retired before fiscal year 2029, are designated as special-mission aircraft, or are otherwise exempted by the Secretary of Defense.

In total, CBO estimates that satisfying the immediate and long-term requirements to equip DoD aircraft with collision‑prevention systems would cost $6.4 billion over the 2026‑2031 period.

Immediate Requirement. To satisfy the requirement of providing temporary systems for all nonexempted aircraft within one year of the bill’s enactment, CBO expects that DoD would purchase portable systems similar to systems available on the commercial market. CBO anticipates that the department would purchase roughly 4,000 portable systems—or one for every two aircraft—and sufficient spare systems to replace lost or damaged units. Using information from the Federal Aviation Administration on the range of prices for systems, CBO estimates it would cost about $0.1 billion to meet the one-year deadline.

Long-Term Requirement. The bill would require DoD to install ADS‑B In systems with integrated cockpit displays in its aircraft by the end of 2031. Using information from DoD on aircraft types and quantities currently in the department’s inventory, the cost to carry out similar system upgrades, and CBO’s projection of aircraft retirements over the next several years, CBO estimates that DoD would need to install ADS‑B In systems on about 7,400 aircraft and install ADS-B Out systems on about 1,400 of those aircraft, at a total cost of about $5.0 billion over the 2026-2031 period. Such systems also would be installed on about 500 newly ordered and delivered aircraft each year at a cost of about $1.3 billion over the 2026‑2031 period, CBO estimates.

Aviation Safety Improvements. H.R. 7613 would require DoD to take several measures to improve aviation safety. CBO estimates that implementing those measures would cost $57 million over the 2026‑2031 period.

Inspections and Maintenance. Each military department would be required to inspect and verify, at least quarterly, the correct configuration and function of all ADS‑B Out systems installed on rotary-wing aircraft. CBO anticipates that DoD would develop inspection protocols for ADS‑B Out systems and begin inspections in calendar year 2027. CBO estimates that developing the inspection protocols would cost $1 million and that inspecting each installed system would cost about $300 (for the equivalent of four labor hours), on average. Thus, inspecting an average annual inventory of around 4,400 ADS‑B Out systems (including currently equipped systems and those that would be newly installed) would cost about $5 million per year. In total, satisfying the inspection requirement would cost $26 million over the 2026-2031 period, CBO estimates.

Training on Operating in Congested Airspace. The bill would require each military department to train flight crews of rotary-wing aircraft on aspects of operations in congested airspace. That training must include information on approach and departure paths, traffic patterns, and runway configurations of the nation’s busiest airports. CBO estimates that in 2027, developing that training would increase DoD’s workload by the equivalent of three dozen full-time employees. Those employees would collect the information on those airports, develop the training materials, and make that information available online. CBO estimates that those efforts would cost $8 million in fiscal year 2027 and $2 million each year thereafter to revise and maintain the curricula, for a total of $16 million over the 2026‑2031 period.

Risk Assessments of Special Missions. Each military department would be required to assess the risks posed by special missions carried out by rotary-wing aircraft near major airports. CBO estimates that effort would increase DoD’s workload by the equivalent of two dozen full-time employees in 2027. Compensation and benefits for those employees would cost $5 million over the 2026‑2031 period.

Aircraft Manual Updates. DoD would be required to update the manuals of rotary-wing aircraft to provide information on the expected and total potential margins of error for barometric altimeter readings. CBO estimates that collecting and analyzing barometric altimeter data across all rotary-wing aircraft and updating the manuals would increase DoD’s workload by the equivalent of 20 full-time employees in 2027, for a total cost of $5 million over the 2026‑2031 period.

Coordination of DoD Aircraft Operations. Thebill would require DoD and the Department of Transportation to establish an agreement on policies governing the operation of DoD aircraft in U.S. airspace. The agreement must be reviewed and updated as necessary every six months. CBO estimates that satisfying that requirement would increase the workloads across both departments by the equivalent of one dozen full-time employees. CBO estimates that finalizing, reviewing, and updating the agreement would cost $3 million over the 2026‑2031 period.

Pilot Safety Survey. H.R. 7613 would require DoD to survey pilots of rotary-wing aircraft for recommendations to improve flight safety reporting and incorporate any relevant findings into each military department’s safety management system. CBO estimates that it would cost $1 million to develop and carry out the survey and another $1 million to categorize and analyze responses, for a total of $2 million over the 2026‑2031 period.

Reports. H.R. 7613 would require DoD to submit several reports to the Congress. The bill also would require the Government Accountability Office to submit a report on DoD’s safety management systems for rotary-wing aviation. On the basis of information about the cost of similar requirements, CBO estimates that providing the reports would cost $3 million over the 2026-2031 period.

Uncertainty

CBO’s estimates of the budgetary effects of H.R. 7613 are subject to considerable uncertainty, and the cost of implementing the bill could be more or less than estimated. Areas of uncertainty that could significantly affect the estimated costs include:

Estimating the number of aircraft DoD would exempt from the requirements for collision-prevention systems,

Assessing the cost and availability of collision-prevention technology that DoD would select to meet the bill’s requirements, and

Anticipating the actions DoD would take to satisfy the safety-related measures required by the bill, and the extent to which the bill would codify actions either planned or already taken by DoD in response to recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board or other federal agencies.