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

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy George, visits the 2-13th Aviation Regiment at Libby Army Airfield to receive a training overview and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training overview on UAS capabilities, training, initiatives, and the aviation enterprise, Feb. 21, 2024. (Photo by Sgt. Jilian Mueller)

Army chief of staff: We don’t need a drone branch

Weapons

NAVAL BASE CORONADO (May 15, 2024) – Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) from Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3 (USVRON 3) operate remotely in San Diego Bay ahead of the unit’s establishment ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Claire M. DuBois)

Navy stands up new robo-ship squadron as Pentagon pursues Replicator systems

Weapons

Col. Richard Wright prepares takes aim at an unmanned aerial system remotely controlled by as Command Sgt. Maj. Wilfredo Suarez, August 20, 2018, at Combined Task Force Defender. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Marion Jo Nederhoed, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade)

Senior Army leader throws cold water on lawmakers’ Drone Corps proposal

Weapons

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 23, 2022) In route to Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, ships of Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG) sail in formation with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Navy ships. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Aleksandr Freutel)

Navy gearing up to test secretive Project Overmatch capabilities at RIMPAC

Emerging Tech

Department of Defense, DOD, Pentagon — (DOD / Lisa Ferdinando)

Military services face sustainment burdens from Replicator systems

Emerging Tech

Photo of Anduril’s Roadrunner-Munition drone that was designed for air defense missions. (Anduril image)

Lawmakers plan to press DOD to accelerate fielding of AI-enabled counter-drone capabilities

AI

DISA Hosting and Compute Center Director Sharon Woods at a press briefing on the Department of Defense’s award of the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Dec. 8, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)

DISA gets new chief for J6 directorate

IT

(Getty Images)

Proposed legislation would push Pentagon to streamline ATO process for cloud-based capabilities

Cyber

In this photo illustration, the OpenAI “ChatGPT” AI-generated answer to the question “What can AI offer to humanity?” is seen on a laptop screen on February 03, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Army set to issue new policy guidance on use of large language models

AI