The Defense and Tech Podcast

Jerusalem Post Podcasts

Hosted by Anna Ahronheim, The Defense and Tech Podcast from The Jerusalem Post dives into the intersection of security, innovation, and strategy in Israel and beyond. Each episode brings you in-depth conversations with military experts, tech leaders, and policymakers shaping the future of defense. From battlefield technology and cybersecurity to innovation startups and regional threats, we explore how Israel’s defense and tech ecosystems are changing the modern world.

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    Why do many Israeli defense startups fail to reach the battlefield? Former IAF senior officer explains why

    Israel’s defense technology ecosystem risks prioritizing flashy demonstrations over deployable battlefield capabilities unless startups adopt a broader, system level approach, Col. (res.) Merav Davidovits said in an interview on The Jerusalem Post’s Defense & Tech podcast. Davidovits, a former senior officer with 25 years of experience in elite Israel Air Force units who now works in venture capital and startups, argued that many defense tech companies focus too heavily on technological novelty while underestimating operational realities. Clean demos and impressive videos, she said, often fail to reflect the messy, complex conditions of real combat environments.

    44 min

  2. JAN 13

    How AI is revolutionizing cybersecurity: Israeli company Intezer's breakthrough discovery

    An Israeli cybersecurity company has shed new light on how artificial intelligence is reshaping both cyber defense and cyber espionage, following its discovery of a sophisticated AI-driven spy campaign targeting Russian defense technology firms. Speaking on the Defense and Tech podcast, Itai Tevet, CEO of Tel Aviv-based Intezer, described how the company uncovered a campaign that used AI-generated Russian language decoys, including realistic-looking documents and invitations, to lure victims into opening malicious files. The campaign, which Intezer observed in the wild rather than disrupting directly, appeared to be linked to a group associated with Ukraine, highlighting the growing role of AI in geopolitical cyber operations.

    26 min

  3. JAN 6

    How Israel’s defense innovation is reshaping global security

    From the battlefield to the boardroom, Israel’s defense innovation ecosystem is undergoing a fundamental shift. In this episode of Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post, host Anna Aharon-Haim speaks with Alon Lifshitz, partner and founder of Aurelius Capital, about how October 7 reshaped Israel’s defense tech landscape, accelerated military adoption of AI, and opened unprecedented opportunities for dual use technologies. Lifshitz explains why Israel has become a proving ground for real time defense innovation, how drone detection is emerging as a critical civilian and military challenge, and why global defense markets are racing to close the technology gap with the private sector. The conversation also explores investment trends in Israel, the US, Europe, and Asia, the role of former intelligence and defense leaders in venture capital, and the growing intersection between national security and commercial technology.

    49 min

  4. 12/17/2025

    Can enemies hack military AI? Iron Dome engineer on battlefield risks

    Col. (Res.) Ryan Gity, who helped develop Iron Dome and shaped Israel's national AI strategy, reveals how adversaries can plant "zero-day triggers" in open-source AI models used by militaries worldwide—including the IDF and U.S. government. In this wide-ranging conversation, Gity explains why "AI is the next nuclear arms race" and shares a striking anecdote from a Geneva ethics conference where a Russian representative declared they would use autonomous weapons regardless of Western concerns. He discusses the recent discovery that 80% of the world's 1.5 million AI models are open-source and potentially compromised, why Israel needs its own sovereign foundation model to protect against historical manipulation, and how robotics and AI could solve the IDF's manpower shortage. Gity offers a rare insider perspective as someone who served on two committees appointed by the Prime Minister—one on defense budgets and future forces, another on Israel's national AI strategy. He addresses the ethical frameworks governing autonomous weapons, the chip supply chain battle between the U.S. and China, and predicts humanoid robots in homes within 15 years.

    26 min

  5. 11/23/2025

    Drones, dominance, and defense: Alon Unger breaks it down | 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.

    34 min

  6. 11/13/2025

    The critical cooperation between Israel and India

    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.

    20 min

  7. 10/22/2025

    Can Hezbollah recover? Inside the battle for Lebanon's future

    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.

    21 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

Hosted by Anna Ahronheim, The Defense and Tech Podcast from The Jerusalem Post dives into the intersection of security, innovation, and strategy in Israel and beyond. Each episode brings you in-depth conversations with military experts, tech leaders, and policymakers shaping the future of defense. From battlefield technology and cybersecurity to innovation startups and regional threats, we explore how Israel’s defense and tech ecosystems are changing the modern world.

Information

  • Creator
    Jerusalem Post Podcasts
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Jerusalem Post Podcasts
  • Show Website
    The Defense and Tech Podcast