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

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 23, 2022) In route to Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, ships of Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG) sail in formation with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Navy ships. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Aleksandr Freutel)

Navy gearing up to test secretive Project Overmatch capabilities at RIMPAC

Emerging Tech

Department of Defense, DOD, Pentagon — (DOD / Lisa Ferdinando)

Military services face sustainment burdens from Replicator systems

Emerging Tech

Photo of Anduril’s Roadrunner-Munition drone that was designed for air defense missions. (Anduril image)

Lawmakers plan to press DOD to accelerate fielding of AI-enabled counter-drone capabilities

AI

DISA Hosting and Compute Center Director Sharon Woods at a press briefing on the Department of Defense’s award of the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Dec. 8, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)

DISA gets new chief for J6 directorate

IT

(Getty Images)

Proposed legislation would push Pentagon to streamline ATO process for cloud-based capabilities

Cyber

In this photo illustration, the OpenAI “ChatGPT” AI-generated answer to the question “What can AI offer to humanity?” is seen on a laptop screen on February 03, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Army set to issue new policy guidance on use of large language models

AI

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall flies in the X-62 VISTA in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, California, May 2, 2024. (Air Force photo by Richard Gonzales)

Air Force’s Kendall: AI agents had ‘roughly an even fight’ against human F-16 pilot in recent engagements

AI

William Chappell, Microsoft CTO for for strategic missions and technologies, speaks at an AI expo hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project, May 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jon Harper)

Microsoft deploys GPT-4 large language model for Pentagon use in top secret cloud

AI

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks is walks with Director of the Defense Innovation Unit Doug Beck during a visit to the Defense Innovation Unit, Mountain View, California, Dec. 12, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Pentagon secures $500M for first tranche of Replicator systems

Weapons