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 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink 4-20 mission, launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on September 4, 2022. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Pentagon contracting with SpaceX’s Starlink to provide satellite communication capabilities for Ukraine

Space

U.S. Marine Gen. Eric M. Smith, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, speaks to Marines from Marine Corps Recruiting Station Montgomery and Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Feb. 10, 2023. The purpose of this visit was to communicate with the Marines to address questions and concerns about improving the force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shannon Doherty)

Biden nominates Marine Gen. Eric Smith, Force Design 2030 advocate, to be next commandant

Tech

Coyote unmanned aerial system (Raytheon image)

Raytheon awarded $147M Navy contract for modified Coyote drone

Weapons

A convoy of semi-autonomous palletized load system vehicles roll past attendees during a vehicle dedication ceremony at Fort Bliss for 16 fallen soldiers of the Army’s 88 Mikes. (U.S. Army photo by Jerome Aliotta/Released)

DIU issues solicitation for GEARS program to convert older vehicles into unmanned systems

AI

(Getty Images)

Defense Department moving to automate polygraph processes

Tech

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L), US President Joe Biden (C) and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (R) hold a press conference after a trilateral meeting during the AUKUS summit on March 13, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Biden administration pursuing legislative changes, ‘sprint teams’ to stimulate AUKUS defense tech

Emerging Tech

U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall speaks at the National Press Club on April 19, 2022. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Kendall vows Air Force NGAD program won’t repeat ‘serious mistake’ associated with the F-35

Weapons

(Getty Images)

Air Force awards $54M contract to enable ‘command and control of the information environment’

Cyber

Fire Controlman (Aegis) 3rd Class Thomas Tecchio stands the SPY radar system control watch aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) as it transits the Taiwan Strait during a routine transit Sept. 17, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin Stack)

Navy establishing accelerated response capability cell to support Ukraine, Taiwan, other contingencies

Weapons