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

General views of the SVB, Silicon Valley Bank branch on March 17, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

After Silicon Valley Bank collapse, DIU looking at how it could respond to future bank failures that threaten its industry partners

Tech

A common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) launches from Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, March 19, 2020, during a Department of Defense flight experiment. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

Navy plans to spend more than $50M per round on average for CPS hypersonic missiles over next 5 years

Weapons

Dr. Anna Crumbley, a research chemical engineer, removes the solids from a new batch of fermented micro-organisms. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Chemical Biological Center is able to produce batches of biomanufactured material at its Aberdeen Proving Ground facility. (Photo by Brian Feeney)

DOD releases RFI eyeing potential Defense Production Act investments to boost US biotech industry

Emerging Tech

An Air Force Research Lab conceptual design for an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (Artwork courtesy of AFRL)

Air Force plans to spend more than $6B on CCA drone programs over the next 5 years

Weapons

Rendering of Hypersonix Launch Systems’ DART AE vehicle. (Hypersonix Launch Systems image courtesy of DIU)

Australian startup tapped to provide airborne hypersonic testing platform for Pentagon

Weapons

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu participates in a virtual event for Engineers Week, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 23, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Big boost in RDER funding tied to plans to conduct multiple technology ‘sprints’

Emerging Tech

Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, participates in the META-13 Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2) and Space Mission Integration panel discussion, at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics ASCEND Summit, from the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Nov. 18, 2020. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

Space Force wants $340M in 2024 to build up operational testing and training infrastructure

Space

Wallops Island, Virginia, Oct. 21, 2021. U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs and the Army Hypersonic Program Office successfully conducted a High Operational Tempo for Hypersonics flight campaign. This test informed the development of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike and the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon offensive hypersonic strike capability. (U.S. Navy Photo/Released)

Navy seeks $900M for hypersonics R&D, plans to buy 8 Conventional Prompt Strike missiles in 2024

Weapons

Members of the Tennessee Army National Guard Defensive Cyber Operation Element (DCOE) augments cyber security during Cyber Shield 2022 at the Army National Guard’s Professional Education Center on Camp Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas on June 12. (U.S. Army photo by Illinois National Guard Capt. Clarissa Estrada).

Army asking Congress for billions in 2024 to implement zero trust, cloud transition, BYOD and other digital transformation efforts

IT