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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_

Articles by Author

U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby attends an International commemorative ceremony for the 82nd anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Normandy landings in Langrune-sur-Mer, northwestern France, of June 6, 2026. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / AFP via Getty Images)

Colby approves Pentagon policy for ‘cyber operations-peculiar’ monetary awards

Cyber

The Virginia-class attack submarine USS North Dakota (SSN 784) has been delivered back to the fleet battle ready, completing a historic first-ever Virginia-class Block III availability at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine Aug. 20, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Neil Boorjian)

White House, Anduril announce plans for new ‘software-defined’ shipyard to help build attack submarines

Tech

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman John Ives, 90th Ground Combat Training Squadron defender, pilots a drone during an X4 and SMASH 2000L Systems Firing Qualification at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center’s North Training Area, Wyoming, May 15, 2026. The drone carried balloon targets to help operators practice acquiring, tracking and engaging simulated aerial threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael A. Richmond)

7th Air Force seeks new counter-drone capabilities for point defense modernization in South Korea

Weapons

(Getty Images)

Space Force laying groundwork to connect future satellite ‘enclaves’ as it prepares for additional launches

Space

Lt. Gen. David Miller takes part in a panel discussion at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Md. Sept 23, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)

Trump taps Miller to head U.S. Space Command

Space

HII’s ROMULUS 151 unmanned surface vessel in production at Breaux Brothers in New Iberia, Louisiana. (Photo courtesy of HII)

Navy to procure 30 robotic ships at an average cost of $40M per vessel

Tech

U.S. Navy Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources Vice Adm. John Skillman leads a town hall meeting onboard NSA Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, July 14, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brendan McCormack)

Trump nominates Skillman as vice chief of naval operations

Tech

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle shakes hands with Rear Adm. Melvin Smith, commander of Submarine Group Two (COMSUBGRU 2), at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Norfolk, Virginia, Sept. 24, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino)

Navy creates warfighting development center in Virginia to determine how the sea service will employ unmanned systems in future battles

Weapons

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 6, 2025) – Seahawk, a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) prototype, departs Naval Base Point Loma, California, Seahawk is a fully unmanned and autonomous vessel operated by Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) 1 and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific in support of technology development, testing and evaluation. The surface force is integrating unmanned vessels into the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn)

Navy prepares to add new sea drones and vendors to online marketplace

Tech