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

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) questions Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on July 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

HASC lawmaker Seth Moulton urges faster adoption — and more restraint — of military AI

AI

Image of DARPA AlphaDogfight Trials. (Screenshot from DARPA video)

DARPA calling for AI ‘reinforcements’ to bolster US air combat capability

AI

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)

‘Live, live, die’ — How the Air Force plans to authorize robotic wingmen to attack targets

Weapons

(Getty Images)

Army acquisition chief sees autonomy, system hardening as key to overcoming comms challenges in future drone wars

Weapons

Burke Baker, a technical director from the 2nd Audiovisual Squadron, operates a switch board in support of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) Onramp 2, Aug. 31, 2020 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Hernandez)

Air Force to share ‘war plan’ with cleared contractors in search for ABMS solutions

IT

(Getty Images)

SDA has big plans for a new app factory to aid battle management

Space

An Air Force Research Lab conceptual design for an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (Artwork courtesy of AFRL)

AFRL’s Skyborg program gearing up for final software demonstration

AI

Inside the Integrated Battle Command System operations center at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. (U.S. Army photo)

IBCS completes key tests, teeing up full-rate production decision for Army

Weapons

Members from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 prepare the MK 18 MOD 2 Kingfish to be deployed during Exercise Noble Vanguard. The Kingfish is an unmanned underwater vehicle with the sonar capabilities to scan the ocean floor for potential mines. Noble Vanguard serves as an enabler to reinforce tactics and techniques of different mission sets that contribute to regional stability. (U.S. Navy Photo by Ensign James French)

Navy issues RFI for unmanned ‘mother ship’ that could deploy other drones

Weapons