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

An XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle launches at the Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., Dec. 9, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua King)

Navy buying XQ-58A Valkyrie drones for ‘penetrating affordable autonomous collaborative killer’ initiative

Weapons

(Getty Images)

2022 in review: Ukraine serving as proving ground for new — and sometimes secretive — US defense tech

Weapons

Concept art for the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM). (Image courtesy of Raytheon Technologies)

2022 in review: Pentagon advances several hypersonics initiatives with contract awards and RDT&E

Weapons

The 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery’s U.S. Army Patriot Missile Systems arrived in Croatia May 17, 2021 to participate in DEFENDER-Europe 21 associated exercise Astral Knight 21 and exercise Immediate Response 21. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Alexandra Shea)

US commits Patriot air defense system to aid Ukraine

Weapons

This photograph shows an object of a critical power infrastructure as it burns after a drone attack to Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. – Drones attacked the Ukrainian capital early on December 19, 2022 morning, the Kyiv city military administration said, urging people to heed air alerts. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

White House hints at sending more counter-drone systems to Ukraine

Weapons

(AFRL/Leidos rendering)

Leidos tapped for Air Force’s Mayhem multi-mission hypersonic weapons program

Weapons

A carrier strike group transits the Pacific Ocean Jan. 25, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Isaacs)

Navy awards IDIQ contracts for $4.1B CANES program

IT

U.S. Capitol, Congress — (Getty Images)

Congress wants DOD strategy to address how 3D printing could aid hypersonic weapons testing

Weapons

Master Sgt. John Malloy and Staff Sgt. Jacob Puente secure the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 as it is loaded under the wing of a B-52H Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 6, 2020. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)

Air Force begins all-up-round flight testing of ARRW hypersonic missile prototype

Weapons