Jon Harper

Jon Harper is Managing Editor of DefenseScoop, the Scoop News Group’s online publication focused on the Pentagon and its pursuit of new capabilities. 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 (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) @Jon_Harper_

Articles by Author

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., (August 20, 2025) U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith, left, the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, speaks with Capt. Alexander Beal, assigned to Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA) Commanding Officer, during a visit to the MCTSSA compound on Aug. 20, 2025. Gen. Smith was briefed on MCTSSA’s pivotal role in Project Dynamis, primarily focused on testing, experimentation, and prototyping of CJADC2 (Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control) capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Joseph R. Vincent, CTR/Released)

Marine Corps releases new guidance on Maven Smart System rollout

AI

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, prepares for a proclamation to be made by representatives from the City of Boston during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the kick-off Marine Week Boston at Boston Common in Boston, Aug. 21, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn L. Bouchard)

Trump nominee for Joint Chiefs vice chairman vows to tackle electronic warfare challenges

Tech

A woman walks under a sign of big data analytics US software company Palantir at their stand ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on May 22, 2022. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Marine Corps reaches deal with Palantir for Maven Smart System

AI

A Ranger from 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment tests the IVAS Capability Set 4 during tropical weather testing in Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, in March 2021. (Photo by Courtney Bacon)

Army awards more than $350M in contracts for Soldier Borne Mission Command system prototypes

Emerging Tech

U.S. Navy Capt. Alan Eichelman (left), commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Marianas, briefs U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg (right), deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / Navy Space Command, on key infrastructure locations prior to an aerial tour of Guam, July 23, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by William J. Busby III)

Trump nominates Heidi Berg to lead Fleet Cyber Command

Cyber

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (May 23, 2025) The Secretary of the Navy John Phelan at the U.S. Naval Academy’s class of 2025 graduation and commissioning ceremony at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (U.S. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey)

SECNAV Phelan orders major shakeup in Navy’s robotic, autonomous systems enterprise

Emerging Tech

The Secretary of the Army, Daniel Driscoll, looks at Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) equipment during a visit to Project Convergence – Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, Calif., in March 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Janean Carr)

Lockheed Martin lands deal for Army’s next-gen C2 initiative

Tech

Service members assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps University, run during Leadership Decision Making Exercise I at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 22, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Colton Martin)

Marine Corps to host genAI workshop at Quantico

AI

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth tests a Dronebuster while touring static displays led by the 3rd Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (3/10 MTN) Warriors and Foreign Legion Force Poland Battle Group in Powidz, Poland, Feb. 15, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander C. Kubitza)

Hegseth orders Army secretary to create new joint interagency counter-drone task force

Weapons