After more than three years since the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the war has transformed many of the conceptions that had modern battles. We do not speak just about technological advanceswhere The drones and the AI They have become fundamental pieces that the rest of the powers will apply to their defenses, but also from that artillery mixture of the past where The ingenuity (Due to lack of resources) it has been equally key.
The latestfarm planes.
Another improvised defense. Yes, Ukraine has incorporated a new piece into its arsenal of improvised solutions against drones: an agricultural plane ZLIN Z-137 AGRO TURBO MODIFIED To carry missiles Aire-Aire R-73one under each wing. This apparatus, normally used for crop fumigation, retains its civil aircraft silhouette, but It has been repainted With a military gray scheme and white stripes in the rear fuselage to reduce the risk of friendly fire.
The video which shows its flush flight over a Ukrainian cornless does not require date or place, but confirms that the country continues to take advantage of resources available to reinforce its air defense. Designed in Czechoslovakia as a turboproproproprobous evolution of the Z-37 čmelák, the Z-137 entered into service in the 1980s and were manufactured More than 700 unitswidely used in the eastern block. The exact amount that could be available for Ukraine is uncertain, as well as the operational state of this armed specimen.
The R-73 missile and its role in hybrid systems. He R-73called AA-11 Archer by NATO, is a short-range missile with high maneuverability infrared search engine and ability to hook whites up to 75 ° outside the front axle with the help of hull viewers. His Maximum range It is about 30 km against front and 14 km targets against whites in pursuit.
Ukraine has reused him in multiple improvised platforms known Like Frankensamincluding land systems such as The serioushawkvehicles Osa antiacera Modified and Naval Drones Be dragon. The integration in the Z-137 seems to use APU-73, although no external sensors are observed, which suggests that the pilot would have to maneuver to place the objective within the field of vision of the missile, or that the installation of a flir system for day and night operations is contemplated. The connection of the plane to the National Surveillance Network, with radars, observers and acoustic sensors, would allow to receive Radio or Digital Link data For interception.
Additional loads and future adaptations. In addition to missiles, the device shows cylindrical deposits or containers In internal supports whose function is not clear. They could be remains of their agricultural function, supplementary fuel tanks, weapons pods or auxiliary equipment.
Its structure could adapt to other missiles already delivered to Ukraine, such as British Asraam, Sidewinder Americans or even AIM-9X latest generation. This versatility makes it a test bench to integrate weapons into platforms not originally designed for air combat, maintaining a low cost and a quick deployment.
Tactical function and limitations. A plane of this type, although much slower than a hunt or an attack helicopter, could serve as “air picket” In specific areas, patrolling sectors where drone activity is foreseen and reacting to low -cost incursions for the enemy.
Its limited speed reduces the ability to intercept multiple objectives at a great distance, but in delimited areas its presence It could be decisive. Operations of this type would be complemented with other media, from mobile equipment with machine guns and spotlights to complexes Patriot systemsusing each resource according to the threat detected.
Strategic context and value in the wear war. Plus: the adaptation of Z-137 reflects the constant pressure that Ukraine suffers to defend against a high volume of Russian drones, especially The Shahedand the need to allocate the most advanced anti -aircraft systems to threats of greater entity.
Faced with the shortage of modern batteries, these improvised solutions serve as a containment force, maintaining a balance between cost and effectiveness. The ability to build civil platforms with military missiles demonstrates a high degree of operational and technical flexibility, and emphasizes that in a prolonged war the war Inventiveness and speed of adaptation can be as decisive as technological sophistication.
International precedents and parallels. Finally, we must remember that the use of agricultural aircraft for military functions is not exclusive to Ukraine. The United States Air Force recently introduced The OA-1K Skyraider IIa militarized version of Air Tractor at-802although with a different role and even in definition.
Both in this case and in the Z-137 Ukrainianthe central idea is to take advantage of simple and resistant platforms as armament vectors, something that Russia has also tested with rudimentary solutions such as fixed weapons under slow aircraft wings. A trend that reflects A global pattern: In a scenario where drone threats proliferate, even aircraft designed for agricultural tasks can become armed hunters.
Image | X, VITALY V. KUZMIN
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