Jon Harper

Jon Harper is Editor-in-Chief of DefenseScoop. He leads an award-winning team of journalists in providing breaking news and in-depth analysis on military technology and the ways in which it is shaping how the Defense Department operates and modernizes. You can also follow him on X: @Jon_Harper_

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Pentagon unveils top performers in latest ‘Gauntlet’ for Drone Dominance Program

Weapons

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine visits Joint Task Force Southern Border in Sierra Vista, Az. April 19, 2025. DOD photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist James Mullen)

Joint Chiefs chairman says U.S. forces must prepare to be ‘hunted’ by autonomous systems

AI

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander presides over a Silver Star ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 3, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)

USAFE boss shares ‘vignettes’ for CCA drone employment in Europe

Weapons

AGM-190A (Leidos image)

AFSOC gunship launches new Havoc Spear cruise missiles at targets in Africa during combat operations

Weapons

In the fireside chat, “When the Math Doesn’t Math: Reframing CMMC to Deliver at the Speed of Relevance,” Kirsten Davies, Chief Information Officer for the Department of War, and James Mismash, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Growth, discussed the Department’s efforts to modernize its digital infrastructure, reduce compliance friction, and create a more secure and agile ecosystem that enables industry to deliver capabilities to the warfighter faster. Photo taken Aug. 26, 2026. (Courtesy Photo)

Pentagon sets procedures for AI-assisted software development

AI

Department of War Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies appears at a Senate Committee on Armed Services subcommittee hearing on cybersecurity on Capitol Hill on March 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Pentagon pores over heaps of industry feedback on CMMC reform

Cyber

(Photo credit: Defense Department)

DIU, Honeywell Aerospace flight-test quantum sensing technology for aircraft navigation

Emerging Tech

Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS (Image courtesy of Textron Systems)

Textron wins Navy task orders for drone ISR services to support 7th Fleet, other forces

Tech

U.S. Marines with Marine Aircraft Group 12 set up c-wire for a temporary sensitive compartmented information facility at Gwangju Air Base, Republic of Korea, during the Fiscal Year 2023 Korea Flying Training, April 19, 2023. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Harmon)

Pentagon kicks off pursuit of mobile SCIFs to aid defense companies

Tech