Which programming language was developed under the sponsorship of the US Department of Defense?

Ada is the programming language developed under the sponsorship of the US Department of Defense. It was created in the late 1970s and named after Ada Lovelace, who is often regarded as one of the first computer programmers. The Department of Defense sought to address the challenges of software development for complex, embedded systems used in defense applications. Ada was designed with a focus on reliability, maintainability, and support for concurrent programming, making it well-suited for large-scale systems where safety and security are paramount.

The other languages mentioned have different origins and purposes. C++ was developed as an extension of the C programming language to include object-oriented features. Java was created by Sun Microsystems primarily for mobile devices and the internet. Python, designed by Guido van Rossum, focuses on code readability and simplicity, gaining popularity for scripting and data analysis. Each of these languages has its own unique background and applications, but only Ada was specifically developed with the backing of the US Department of Defense for military and systems-oriented applications.