Owning advanced fighter aircraft is one thing. Keeping them ready to fight is another. Dr. Kelly highlights a striking comparison in F-35 operational readiness. He reports that Israel maintained approximately 90% readiness during intensive combat operations, while the wider US F-35 fleet recorded a mission-capable rate of around 51.5% in fiscal year 2024. The figures relate to different fleets and operating conditions, but they raise an important question: how does Israel sustain such a demanding operational tempo? Dr. Kelly points to Israel's investment in independent maintenance facilities, locally trained technicians, testing capabilities and the ability to implement repairs and upgrades without relying entirely on the conventional F-35 support process. Australia operates the same family of aircraft. The ability to maintain them under sustained operational pressure could be as important as their combat capabilities. Watch the full episode for Dr. Kelly's analysis of the lessons Australia can draw from Israel's F-35 operations. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/25JIyWMPRbc 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/1qa… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #F35 #RoyalAustralianAirForce #MilitaryAviation #DefenceReadiness #AustralianDefence

A $20,000 drone. A $4 million missile. That is the economic problem confronting modern naval warfare. A sophisticated warship may have the technology to intercept an incoming threat, but can it afford to keep doing so? Dr. Kelly examines the enormous disparity between the cost of relatively inexpensive drones and the sophisticated defensive missiles used by Western navies. An SM-2 interceptor can cost around US2million,whileanSM-6canexceedUS4 million. Against large numbers of much cheaper drones, the economics become increasingly difficult to sustain. There is another limitation: warships carry finite missile inventories, and replenishing their vertical-launch systems at sea remains a major challenge. The result is a fundamental rethink of naval defence, including electronic warfare, helicopters, directed-energy weapons and layered protection. For Australia, protecting vital sea lanes across the Indo-Pacific will require solutions that are not only effective but sustainable. Watch the full episode for Dr. Kelly's analysis of these emerging threats—including Australia's contribution to electronic warfare technology. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/25JIyWMPRbc 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/1qa… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #NavalWarfare #DroneWarfare #MissileDefence #ElectronicWarfare #AustralianDefence

Could Iran's ballistic missile programme eventually put European capitals within its reach? Dr. Kelly examines the strategic implications of Iran's Khorramshahr-4 missile and the possibility of extending its operational range. He discusses an estimated potential range of around 4,000 kilometres—a capability that, if demonstrated, would significantly extend Iran's ability to threaten targets beyond the Middle East. But missile range is only part of the equation. The more consequential question is: what happens when increasingly capable ballistic missiles are combined with the potential development of nuclear warheads? This would fundamentally change the strategic calculations facing Europe, Israel and the wider international community. Watch the full episode for Dr. Kelly's analysis of Iran's missile ambitions, its nuclear programme and the implications for global security. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/25JIyWMPRbc 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/1qa… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #Iran #BallisticMissiles #Khorramshahr4 #EuropeanSecurity #NuclearProliferation

How do stealth fighters penetrate heavily defended airspace and neutralise the systems designed to destroy them? Dr. Kelly examines Israel's use of the F-35I Adir against Iranian air defences, including networks incorporating Russian-designed S-300 systems, advanced radar and surface-to-air missiles. He highlights Israel's reported ability to conduct these operations without losing an F-35I aircraft. The achievement is about more than stealth. Israel has adapted its F-35 fleet with its own electronic warfare capabilities, software and operational systems, allowing it to respond to the particular threats it faces. For Australia, which also operates the F-35, the lessons are significant. Potential adversaries in the Indo-Pacific employ sophisticated air-defence technologies, making electronic warfare, adaptability and operational independence increasingly important. Watch the full episode for Dr. Kelly's analysis of how Israel is adapting the F-35—and what Australia could learn from that experience. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/25JIyWMPRbc 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/1qa… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #F35I #StealthFighter #IsraeliAirForce #AirDefence #MilitaryAviation

A TikTok video filmed outside a military facility might seem harmless. But in the wrong hands, even the smallest detail can become valuable intelligence. Dr Mike Kelly examines how Iranian intelligence capabilities allegedly helped Hamas build a detailed picture of Israeli military installations ahead of the October 7 attacks. Online activity from more than 100,000 IDF personnel was exploited to identify military facilities, their layouts and potential vulnerabilities. The lesson extends far beyond Israel. Every photograph, social media post and seemingly insignificant piece of information can contribute to an adversary's intelligence picture. What does this mean for Australia's Defence Force and national security? Watch the full episode to understand the intelligence failures of October 7 and the lessons Australia cannot afford to ignore. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/BcuhHQvWqg0 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/3im… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #CyberEspionage #IntelligenceGathering #October7 #NationalSecurity #IDF

How did Hamas achieve such a devastating penetration of Israel's defences on October 7, 2023? The assault was not a minor border incursion. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other armed groups launched an invasion involving forces equivalent to approximately two brigades, penetrating deep into southern Israel and reaching as far as Ofakim. In this episode, we examine the scale of the intelligence failure that preceded the attack and the dangers of assuming technological and military superiority will guarantee security. October 7 exposed a fundamental strategic reality: even sophisticated defence systems can fail when an adversary finds ways to exploit their weaknesses. Watch the full episode for Dr. Kelly’s wider analysis of intelligence, modern warfare and the lessons for Australia's defence preparedness. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/BcuhHQvWqg0 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/3im… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #October7 #Israel #MilitaryIntelligence #DefenceStrategy #MiddleEast

Just coming to grips with the news that Helen has lost both legs. So utterly senseless. I haven’t shed tears like this in a long time. I hope this is a galvanising moment for the nation.

What happens when a country's communications networks are attacked in the middle of a war? Military commands, emergency responders and civilian authorities must still be able to communicate, even when critical infrastructure is damaged or disabled. Dr Mike Kelly examines how Israel has strengthened its communications resilience through redundant fibre and satellite connections, secure mesh networks and systems designed to keep operating when central networks fail. The strategic lesson is clear: communications infrastructure is no longer simply a civilian service. It is an essential component of national defence. For Australia, where digital connectivity underpins almost every aspect of daily life, the implications are significant. Watch the full episode as we explore how Israel's wartime experience can inform Australia's approach to cyber security, infrastructure resilience and national preparedness. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/BcuhHQvWqg0 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/3im… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #CyberDefence #NationalSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #DigitalResilience #Israel

One of the most effective ways to defeat advanced intelligence technology is to stop using the technology it monitors. In preparing for October 7, Hamas understood Israel's extensive signals intelligence capabilities and adapted its communications accordingly. Rather than relying on electronic communications that could be intercepted, Hamas used word of mouth and handwritten messages to conceal its planning — the world of human intelligence is not dead. Dr Mike Kelly explains how this approach helped Hamas evade Israeli surveillance and contributed to the intelligence failure preceding the attack. It's a powerful reminder that technological superiority is not the same as intelligence superiority. An adversary will study your strengths and look for ways around them. Watch the full episode to understand why human intelligence, operational security and anticipating an adversary's methods remain critical to modern defence. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/BcuhHQvWqg0 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/3im… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #SIGINT #MilitaryIntelligence #Hamas #October7 #ModernWarfare

Could cyber attacks against Australian businesses and infrastructure be used to punish Australia for its foreign policy decisions? As Australia supports Ukraine, Dr Mike Kelly raises an important national security concern: cyber attacks that appear to be ordinary criminal activity may also serve the strategic interests of hostile states. Telecommunications networks, banking systems and other essential services can become targets in conflicts that extend well beyond the conventional battlefield. This episode examines how state-linked actors can exploit cyber warfare to exert pressure while maintaining plausible deniability. For Australia, the question is not simply whether our networks can withstand criminal attacks, but whether we are prepared for cyber operations intended to influence our national decisions. Watch the full episode for Dr. Kelly’s analysis of the evolving cyber threat and what Australia can learn from Israel's wartime experience. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/BcuhHQvWqg0 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/3im… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #CyberWarfare #Australia #Ukraine #NationalSecurity #CyberSecurity

Modern warfare is no longer fought solely with missiles, aircraft and conventional military forces. Cyber operations can now be coordinated with physical strikes to disrupt an adversary's ability to respond. Dr Mike Kelly examines Israel's cyber offensive against Iran during Operation Roar of the Lion in February 2026. As Israeli aircraft struck military targets, cyber units simultaneously targeted Iranian digital infrastructure and command-and-control systems. Strategic lesson: cyber operations can amplify kinetic effects by disrupting connectivity, information flow and command networks. Thus undermining Iran's ability to coordinate its forces and sustain retaliatory attacks. The implications extend well beyond the Middle East. Future conflicts will increasingly depend on how effectively nations integrate their digital, intelligence and conventional military capabilities. Watch the full episode as Dr. Kelly examines the changing character of warfare and the strategic lessons for Australia and its allies. 🎬 WATCH: youtu.be/BcuhHQvWqg0 🎧 LISTEN: open.spotify.com/episode/3im… Subscribe to our regular YouTube podcast youtube.com/@Dr.MikeKelly 🔗 Follow: Instagram: @Dr.MikeKellyAM X: @MikeKellyofEM Facebook: mike.kelly.819432 LinkedIn: mike-kelly-0336a055 #Israel #Iran #CyberWarfare #MilitaryStrategy #MiddleEastConflict

I guess there is a long way to go before the Wallabies deserve to be on the same paddock as the ABs.