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As the conflict with Iran continues, the battlefield is revealing how dramatically warfare has changed over the past two decades. In a special Defense and Tech podcast conversation, journalist and analyst Yaakov Katz joined host Anna Ahronheim to discuss the technologies, alliances and strategic calculations now defining the war.
Katz argued that one of the biggest shifts is not just in visible weapons systems such as drones, lasers or missile defense, but in the ability of militaries to process enormous amounts of intelligence in real time. According to him, Israel’s advantage today lies in its ability to gather data from multiple sources, including satellites, drones, border sensors and human intelligence, and turn that information into actionable targets far faster than in previous wars.
That acceleration, he explained, is largely driven by artificial intelligence and advanced battle management systems. Tasks that once required long hours of analysis by large teams can now be shortened dramatically, allowing forces to identify targets and close the “sensor-to-shooter” cycle much faster. In a large theater such as Iran, where mobile missile launchers can appear, fire and disappear quickly, speed has become essential.
Ahronheim noted that this is not just about Israeli capabilities, but also about how Israel and the United States are operating together. Katz described the current partnership as exceptionally close, with coordination extending across intelligence, targeting and air operations. He said the alliance resembles a NATO-style level of cooperation, with CENTCOM playing a central role in helping Israel, the US and regional partners avoid miscalculation in crowded skies.
Looking ahead, both speakers focused on what comes after the fighting. Katz said the best-case scenario would be a weakened or removed Iranian regime, which could transform the strategic environment for Israel and open the door to wider regional change. But he also warned of the danger that a future Iranian leadership could race even faster toward a nuclear weapon, seeing it as the ultimate guarantee of survival.
The conversation ended in dramatic fashion, with Ahronheim forced to sign off as a siren sounded in the background. A reminder that for all the talk of AI, systems and strategy, this remains a war being lived in real time.