Jon Harper

Jon Harper is Managing Editor of DefenseScoop, the Scoop News Group’s online publication focused on the Pentagon and its pursuit of new capabilities. 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 (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) @Jon_Harper_

Articles by Author

(Lockheed Martin image)

DOD tests airborne microwave weapon’s ability to defeat kamikaze drones

Weapons

Army Futures Command’s Software Factory operations taking place on March 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (U.S. Army Photo by Mr. Luke J. Allen)

Nominee for Army chief of staff sees ‘fierce’ war for AI talent

AI

(Getty Images)

Australian defense establishment teaming with startup Q-CTRL amid AUKUS push for quantum tech

Emerging Tech

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kevin Holdaway (left) and Cpl. Seth Silveira, low-altitude air-defense gunners with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (LAAD), send an electronic signal to jam a drone with the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or L-MADIS, at Marine Corps Outlying Landing Field Atlantic, North Carolina, Oct. 18, 2022. The L-MADIS is an electronic-attack system that counters unmanned-aircraft system by nonkinetic capabilities to destroy or negate aerial threats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Servante R. Coba)

With RFP on the way, Marines are eyeing a variety of ‘non-kinetic’ counter-drone weapons

Weapons

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon May 25, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Gen. Milley anticipates new ‘Joint Futures’ organization will come to fruition

Emerging Tech

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael Emard, 711th Human Performance Wing behavioral scientist, creates slides from video snapshots that would be sent to soldiers in the field (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

Maxar wins Air Force contract to enhance Red Wing GEOINT platform

Tech

April 5, 2022 NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland – Michael Brown, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, participating in the Future of Naval Innovation panel at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition. (U.S. Navy photo by Eric Anderson)

Former DIU chief Mike Brown urges approval of $1B defense ‘hedge’ fund, more testing of commercial tech on Ukraine’s battlefields

Emerging Tech

U.S. Marines with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, assault a beach during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 at Marine Corps Base, Hawaii, July 30, 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Sandra Garduno)

Berger: Marines need to ‘make up ground’ in incorporating unmanned systems into amphibious operations

AI

Rendering of an optionally manned fighting vehicle (U.S. Army)

Army taps General Dynamics, American Rheinmetall for next phases of optionally manned fighting vehicle program

Weapons