13 Mar 2026

How drones and other technology is transforming the battlefield

From Afternoons, 1:15 pm on 13 March 2026

Last night SYOS Aerospace won Business of The Year at the Tauranga Business awards, recognised for its "rapid growth and global relevance".

The Mount Maunganui based company designs and builds drones, and other autonomous vehicles, that are used in global defence. 

And that got us thinking about drone warfare and how technology is transforming the battlefield. 

To discuss that and the conflict happening in Iran, Jesse is joined by friend of the show, retired Major General John G Howard.

Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the Shahed-136, are pictured during a military rally in downtown Tehran, Iran, on January 10, 2025. The IRGC spokesperson says on Monday, January 6, that the military rally named Rahian-e-Quds (Passengers of Al-Aqsa) includes 110,000 IRGC members. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto) (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto via AFP)

Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the Shahed-136, are pictured during a military rally in downtown Tehran, Iran, on 10 January, 2025. Photo: MORTEZA NIKOUBAZL / AFP