COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.

SEC. 246. COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. (a) Memorandum of Agreement With NNSA.—(1) The Secretary of Defense and the Administrator for Nuclear Security of the Department of Energy shall enter into a memorandum of agreement to conduct joint research and development on military applications of high energy lasers. (2) The projects pursued under the memorandum of agreement— (A) shall be of mutual benefit to the national security programs of the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration of the Department of Energy; (B) shall be prioritized jointly by officials designated to do so by the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator; and (C) shall be consistent with the technology plan prepared pursuant to section 243(b)(4) and the requirements identified in section 243(c). (3) The costs of each project pursued under the memorandum of agreement shall be shared equally by the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration. (4) The memorandum of agreement shall provide for appropriate peer review of projects pursued under the memorandum of agreement. (b) Evaluation of Other Cooperative Programs and Activities.—The Secretary of Defense shall evaluate the feasibility and advisability of entering into cooperative programs or activities with other Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, and the private sector for the purpose of enhancing the programs, projects, and activities of the Department of Defense relating to high energy laser technologies, systems, and weapons.