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_

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Pentagon’s 5G office sponsoring Open RAN technology challenge with more than $6M in cash prizes

Emerging Tech

A Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel operates in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 29, during Digital Horizon 2022. The three-week unmanned and artificial intelligence integration event involves employing new platforms in the region for the first time. (U.S. photo by Sgt. Brandon Murphy)

Deploying contractor-owned robotic vessels could be a fruitful long-term option for the Navy, Secretary Del Toro says

Weapons

Gen. Chance Saltzman makes remarks during his promotion ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Nov. 2, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)

Space Force chief concerned about ‘backdoor’ for attacking satellite communications

Space

Sea Hunter, an autonomous unmanned surface vehicle, arrives at Pearl Harbor to participate in the Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aiko Bongolan)

Navy to soon host industry days for advanced unmanned systems development to comply with congressional mandate

Weapons

Artist’s rendering of a hypersomic air-breathing weapon. (Image courtesy of DARPA)

DARPA wraps up air-breathing hypersonic program, plans follow-on for hypersonic cruise missiles

Weapons

Rear Adm. George Wikoff (Navy photo)

Rear Adm. Wikoff tapped to command Navy’s 5th Fleet, which oversees unmanned task force

Weapons

Artist rendering of quadcopters

Army testing out new armed quadcopter for training

Weapons

River entrance of the U.S. Department of Defense. (Getty Images)

Pentagon updates guidance for development, fielding and employment of autonomous weapon systems

AI

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)

Spacecom leader warns of potential ‘failure modes’ as DOD pursues commercial space capabilities

Space