and unmanned aerial systems. (6) In 2017, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence awarded £30M to an international defense consortium to build a prototype for the Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Capability Demonstrator. The air defense system will be capable of engaging targets in land and maritime environments. (7) In 2017, the United Kingdom’s Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin said, The UK has long enjoyed a reputation as a world leader in innovation and it is truly ground-breaking projects like the Laser Directed Energy Weapon which will keep this country ahead of the curve. The Defense Innovation Initiative and £800M Defense Innovation Fund aim to encourage imagination, ingenuity and entrepreneurship, in pursuit of maintaining a military advantage in the future. . (8) In 2018, while offering remarks at the Directed Energy Summit, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin expressed support for the United States partnering with allies to develop directed energy technologies. (9) In 2019, the United States Missile Defense Review highlighted the promise that high-powered laser technology holds for boost-phase ballistic missile defense. 3. United States-United Kingdom directed energy capabilities cooperation (a) Authority (1) In general The Secretary of Defense, upon request of the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence and with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is authorized to carry out research, development, test, and evaluation activities, on a joint basis with the United Kingdom, to establish directed energy capabilities that address threats to the United States, deployed forces of the United States, or the United Kingdom. Any activities carried out pursuant to such authority shall be conducted in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive information and the national security interests of the United States and the national security interests of the United Kingdom. (2) Report The activities described in paragraph (1) may be carried out