An October 7 committee press release following the passage of the conference report on the bill announces that the funding would be added "for a mobile maritime sensor development program to provide options for the Navy in meeting its sea-based missile defence requirements".
The Navy is developing a next-generation cruiser, CG(X), that would have Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense capabilities, and "one of the capability limitations that they have to address in deciding on the requirements for that cruiser is radar performance," according to a statement from committee staff in response to questions from Inside the Navy.