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

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 85 commercial and government spacecraft and 3 Starlink satellites launches from Cape Canaveral on June 30, 2021. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dakota Raub)

New SDA, MDA missile-tracking satellites launched into space

Space

The Marine Corps established the Marine Corps Software Factory (MCSWF) pilot program to create a world-class Marine-led software development capability March 10, 2023. (Photo by Maj. Gregory Carroll)

Marine Corps software factory rolls out 4 new apps for tactical and back-office operations

Cyber

KuRFS and Coyote provide the detect and defeat components of the U.S. Army’s counter-UAS solution, called LIDS: the Low, slow, small, unmanned aircraft Integrated Defeat System. (RTX image)

Army buys 600 additional Coyote counter-drone weapons amid attacks on US troops

Weapons

(Getty Images)

Navy, DIU tap 3 vendors to build large underwater drones

Weapons

The Army’s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Project Management Office, in collaboration with the U.S. Special Operations Command, executed a flight demonstration involving the first launch of the Air-Launched, Tube-Integrated Unmanned System (Altius) 700 air vehicle on Dec. 3, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (Army photo by Daniel Henke.)

SOCOM gearing up to assess air-launched kamikaze drones

Weapons

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Green Berets with 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), and an augmentee with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, clear a corridor of threats during the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat course, Jan. 24 to Feb. 3, 2022. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)

SOCOM taking innovation foundry to London to focus on special ops in ‘smart cities’

Emerging Tech

Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, is guided by Col. J. Frederick Dente, V Corps chief of staff, during a visit to Camp Kościuszko, Poland, Sep. 8, 2022. (Photo by Spc. Dean Johnson)

Army acquisition chief hopeful that Congress will grant reprogramming request for Replicator

Weapons

Screenshot of Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee about his reappointment to the grade of admiral and nomination to commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Feb. 1, 2024. (Screenshot from DVIDS video)

Counter-C5ISRT is top priority for nominee to lead Indo-Pacific Command

Tech

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and members of the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment conduct an amphibious assault utilizing Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Crafts at Fog Bay during exercise Talisman Sabre 15, in the Northern Territory, Australia, July 11 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by MCIPAC Combat Camera Gunnery Sgt. Ricardo Morales/Released)

US military to bring RDER, T-REX tech initiatives to Australia

Emerging Tech