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

Artist rendering of quadcopters

US Missile Defense Review includes new focus on kamikaze drones, other UAS threats

Weapons

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro speaks at the AFCEA NOVA Naval IT conference, Oct. 25., 2022. (Photo by Jon Harper)

Navy secretary touts cloud as key for unmanned system ops

IT

Chris Cleary, Navy principal cyber adviser, speaks during a panel at DefenseTalks 2022. (DefenseScoop)

Navy’s top cyber advisor decries overuse of the word ‘attack’ to describe cyber incidents

Cyber

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro speaks at the Professional Services Council’s defense conference, Oct. 20, 2022, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Jon Harper)

Navy plans to deploy Project Overmatch capabilities throughout the fleet ‘sooner than later’

Emerging Tech

(Photo by BENOIT DOPPAGNE/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)

DOD looking to expand scholarship program to bolster hypersonics workforce

Weapons

U.S. businessman Michael Bloomberg speaks with participants prior to a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and finalists at the Glasgow Science Center on the sidelines of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit on November 2, 2021 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Bloomberg now chairs the Defense Innovation Board. (Photo by Alastair Grant – Pool/Getty Images)

Pentagon announces new members of Defense Innovation Board

Emerging Tech

The Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) is expected to subsume the functionality of the Army’s legacy ground stations including the Advanced Miniaturized Data Acquisition System, Advanced Remote Ground Terminal, and Tactical Intelligence Ground Station. (Army photo)

Army to launch new algorithm-focused program in 2024 to support TITAN initiative

AI

A Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel and Egyptian Navy frigate ENS Alexandria (F911) operate in the Red Sea in support of the newly established Combined Task Force 153, April 21, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. DeAndre Dawkins)

Navy developing new mesh network of robo-ships enabled by sensors, AI and the cloud

AI

A U.S. Marine Corps Hero-400 loitering munition drone is staged before flight on San Clemente Island, California, May 25, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Childs)

DOD intensifying search for new tech to defeat kamikaze drones

Weapons