The Defense and Tech Podcast

Israel has flown drones for 50 years, but the battlefield is changing fast. On this episode of The Jerusalem Post’s Defense and Tech Podcast, host Anna Ahronheim sits down with Alon Unger, founder and chairman of UVID, one of the world’s leading UAV conferences, to break down the future of unmanned warfare and the race for drone dominance. Unger explains why engineers still underestimate the human role in UAV operations, how global rivals are learning from Israeli innovation in real time, and why the biggest bottlenecks in drone adoption are no longer technological but social and economic. He also maps the trends reshaping the field, from spectrum warfare and 3D-printed aircraft to new energy breakthroughs and the push for autonomy. The conversation digs into Israel’s urgent need for education pipelines, national-level investment, and a unified strategy to stay ahead as the US, China, NATO states, Russia, and regional powers pour billions into unmanned systems. Unger also previews the massive 2025 UVID conference in Tel Aviv, where the global UAV community will gather to discuss the next decade of unmanned aviation.

Welcome to the second episode of The Defense and Tech Podcast, where host Anna Ahronheim sits down with Dr. Lauren Dagan Amoss, a researcher at the Begin Sadat Center and a member of Forum Dvora.At this crucial moment in diplomatic history, strengthening ties between Israel and international partners has never been so important. This episode was recorded just days after a deadly bombing in the Indian capital of Delhi and shortly after India and Israel signed a major defense cooperation agreement.Dr. Dagan Amoss understands what years of progressive cooperation looks like, and shares with us the similarities between the two countries. She explores the growing partnership between the two countries-from agriculture, tourism, innovation, defense technology and more.Watch the podcast here.

In the first episode of The Defense and Tech Podcast, host Anna Ahronheim sits down with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Sarit Zehavi, founder and CEO of ALMA Research Center, to examine Israel's northern security landscape in the aftermath of the war with Hezbollah. Sarit breaks down how Iran has doubled down on its support for Hezbollah despite the proxy's devastating losses, including increased boots on the ground and direct involvement in Lebanon's reconstruction. She reveals that while Hezbollah has been "80% degraded" according to Israeli assessments, the terror group is actively rebuilding, particularly north of the Litani River, and still poses a significant threat with thousands of rockets and advanced drone capabilities. The conversation explores the effectiveness of Lebanon's armed forces in disarming Hezbollah, the concerning signs of collaboration between Lebanese military commanders and the terror group, and why Hezbollah will never voluntarily give up its weapons.Sarit also addresses the uncertainty surrounding Syria's new leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa and whether Israel can trust the former jihadi leader's transformation. From the Radwan Brigades' attempted recovery to Iran's Red Crescent operations serving as cover for IRGC activity, this episode offers an unflinching look at the threats Israel faces on its northern border, and why the situation, while improved, remains a potential tinderbox.