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

photo of quantum machine — Quantum supercomputer (Getty Images)

Lawmakers aim to establish DOD pilot focused on near-term quantum computing applications

Emerging Tech

(Army photo)

Army’s new M10 Booker combat vehicle could receive AI upgrades to aid targeting

Weapons

U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Tacket, Head Quarters and Head Quarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, launches a Tier I Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, “PUMA”, during training, Schofield Barracks, Nov. 14, 2012. (Photo by Sgt. Hillary Rustine)

US to send more Puma drones to Ukraine

Weapons

PHILIPPINE SEA (April 8, 2023) A U.S. Navy Sailor launches an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the ÒMighty ShrikesÓ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph Calabrese)

Gilday: 7th Fleet to receive Project Overmatch capabilities

IT

E-6B Mercury (U.S. Navy photo)

Navy receives first E-6B jet with new nuclear command, control and communications upgrades

IT

(Dulles Expo Center photo)

DOD soliciting applications for trade show focused on ‘unknown’ capabilities, commercial tech

Emerging Tech

(Getty Images)

Army looking for contractor to take over resale of cloud capabilities across the department

IT

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