manufactured

There is a material on which the future of the iPhone and AI depends. And almost everything is manufactured by the same Japanese company.

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More than 100 years ago two Japanese textile companies called Fukushima Boseki Co., Ltd., and Katakura Seishi Iwashiro Bosekisho they joined forces to become Nitto Boseki Co. Ltd, also known as Nittobo. A century later we have encountered a giant on which a critical material for the future of our chips depends: glass fabric. Technological glass artisans. The Japanese company was the first in industrially producing carbon fiber. They did it in 1938, almost right at the same time as Owens Corning Fiber Glass in the US. Later, in 1969, they developed the “crystal fabric” or “glass cloth” (glass cloth), a material that began to be used in printed circuits Hello, T-glass. That material evolved and in 1984 they launched their T-glass, an even more specialized glass fabric that began to be used as a substrate in chips of all types. This material is different from the common fiberglass like that used in surfboards or in insulation solutions. Thus, it has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion, which ensures its good performance even when the chips are operating at maximum performance. Japan, we have a problem. As indicated on Nikkeiexperts warn that the lack of this material has become a major obstacle to chip manufacturing and the advancement of AI in 2026. Nittobo is practically the only company in the world capable of manufacturing this glass with the necessary quality. Its glass fabric is extremely thin, bubble-free and heat-resistant, which has made it a fundamental part of chips such as those used in iPhones. Apple, in fact, was one of the first major technology companies to reach an agreement with Nittobo to use this material. Everyone loves Nittobo. The good performance of this material has now made companies like NVIDIA, Google or Amazon also demand T-glass for their chips, and that has generated a worrying competition due to inventory that is quickly depleted and it is not clear that it can cope with demand. Apple asks for help. The situation is so tense that Apple has sent some managers to Japan and has even asked the Japanese government to intervene to ensure supplies from Nittobo. Once again the objective is to guarantee the launch of its key products, and at Nikkei they point directly to the expected foldable iPhone. The fiberglass fabric is a critical layer on the chip substrate and ensures that everything works perfectly even under heavy workloads. Source: Nikkei. Capacity will grow, but not immediately. At Nittobo they know very well what the situation is like, but they can’t do anything to remedy it, at least in the short term. A company executive quoted in Nikkei indicates that “if we do not have additional capacity, it means that we do not have additional capacity no matter how much pressure is put on Nittobo. The way I see it, the situation will only improve significantly when Nittobo’s production increase becomes a reality in the second half of 2027.” Looking for alternatives. Apple and Qualcomm are looking for plans B, and their initiatives to find new suppliers in China or Taiwan are already underway. However, the demand for the quality of this type of material is very high: an error in the quality of the glass of the chip substrate cannot be repaired, and would ruin entire batches of components. AI causes chaos again. We already saw it with memories: the AI ​​industry needs immense quantities of DRAM and NAND memory chips, and that has now meant that the rest of the world is suffering from a huge rise in prices. The same thing is happening with this glass fabric: AI chip manufacturers have an exaggerated demand for this material, which harms the rest of the “traditional” chip manufacturers and, therefore, the users. bad business. And as happens with memories, in the end the material is sold to the highest bidder, which are usually companies like NVIDIA that have exceptional profit margins. That leaves consumer electronics manufacturers in a vulnerable position and with declining sales forecasts. Nittobo does not want to saturate the market. And as happened with the memory market, Nittobo does not want to oversize its business in the face of this demand and prefers to be cautious. Japanese suppliers already suffered losses from overstocks in 2022, so they are now reluctant to expand their factories aggressively. It is precisely the same speech that Micron made, which already suffered from excess inventory after the pandemic: although they could now manufacture more memory chips, for them that means risking history repeating itself. In Xataka | A thousand-year-old mystery allowed us to put nanotechnology into modern screens. Today the discovery has a Nobel Prize

the incredible secrecy with which the first iPhone was manufactured

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What was it like working on the iPhone original? The question has surely been on the mind of every technology enthusiast: after all, we are talking about one of the greatest advances in technological consumption of the 21st century. And it is one that has an answer. It was given by Terry LambertApple engineer, a few years ago on Quora. Lambert was part of ‘Project Purple’, a top secret project in which it was only possible to work if one accepted not only endless days, but also an environment in which secrecy was absolute. So much so that Lambert had to sign a confidentiality agreement (NDA) not only to guarantee that he would not tell anything about that project: he signed it to be able to know the name of the key project. That was just the first of obsessive security measures who managed to protect that secret until the end. Lambert was responsible for about 6% (in number of lines) of the core code of OS The first thing he said is that when he was offered to work on that project, they took him to an area of ​​the headquarters where everyone dressed in black: that in itself was an unmistakable sign that something top secret was being worked on. Working blind, almost literally In fact, Lambert joked that if you wanted to create a cute Apple Halloween costume, all you had to do was put on a black sheet, cut out a couple of holes for the eyes, and go “secret project“. During that project he never saw the iPhone for which he was programming and debugging code: “I could only see the machine that did the remote debugging, not the actual device, but it was obviously a system based on ARM architecture.” After signing the NDA that allowed him to know the code name of the project – and of course he couldn’t discuss anything with anyone, including his family – he would end up working on something that he wasn’t even sure what it was, especially since Apple maintained completely independent groups in which they worked on small objectives that They did not allow us to know what they were working on on the whole. Another thing Apple does is give different code names for different groups. Or what is the same: you could be working on the same project as another person or group without knowing it. Neither debate it nor comment on it. Another engineer named Jerry Wang who also answered that question on Quora indicated how in fact he, who also worked on the documentation of that device and worked with the operators that launched the iPhone in the United States, did not know the project as ‘Project Purple’, but as ‘M68’. From that moment on he had access to a “secret laboratory” that was inside the main laboratory. Only a select few had access to that secret lab, but “you never got to see the design of the product, because when you’re doing that initial work, it’s all Plexiglas prototypes.” A curious detail: Lambert confessed how the cables used to “talk” to those pre-production units were, indeed, purple. In Xataka | In 2007, Steve Jobs went on stage with an iPhone that barely worked: he was saved by a script that did not allow even a detour Image | Xataka

It looks like a conch, in reality it is a “sound technology” manufactured 6,000 years ago in Neolithic Catalonia

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When we think of the Neolithicthe truth is that we imagine the use of polished stone tools, how they began to flirt with ceramics or how they killed each other. But to this we must now add the acoustic engineeringwhich seems to have also been somewhat dominated thanks to the conch shells. Something that happened right here in Spain. The investigation. It was the University of Barcelona that was able to confirm that twelve sea shells found in the sites of Catalonia They were not leftover food or decorations, but rather sophisticated musical and communication instruments that are capable of producing a powerful and modulable sound similar to that of a modern horn. Something that can be considered the first musical instrument in history. This finding has been published in the scientific journal Antiquity and suggests that these shells Charonia lampas They were modified by the locals themselves to become what is now called one of the “oldest sound production technologies known to man.” The shells. Without a doubt the protagonists of this study and that have been dated between the end of the fifth and the beginning of the fourth millennium BC. That is, about 6,000 years ago. Some pieces that have been collected from different locations in Catalonia such as the Gavà variscite minessettlements in the Penedes and the Llobregat basin. But beyond how old they are, their technical intention also stands out, since these conch shells were not collected to eat the mollusk. Science suggests that they were collected already empty and collected for their size and ergonomics to be used as a musical instrument. From this raw material, the tips were precisely removed from all the pieces to create a mouthpiece to generate the sound. The idea in this case was to have the right size to be able to carry it with you and have an adequate sound. Testing the sound. Beyond having the conch on the table, we also wanted to know what prehistory was listening to. To do this, they chose the eight conch shells that were in good condition and blew through them. The result was very spectacular: when blowing through them, vibrating the lips in the same way as is done with the current brass instruments (like a trumpet or trombone), the shells came to life. The resulting sound was powerful, stable and with a timbre similar to that of a French horn. But although it may seem that he only had one note available, the reality is that by inserting his hand into the shells he could lower the pitch and change the note. And even if the tongue was articulated, the texture of the sound was modified. In this way, in prehistory they not only made an instrument, but also had the possibility of ‘playing’ with the sound. A telephone. Beyond their musical capacity, these objects fulfilled a vital function as long distance communication tools. The study itself points out that in a world where there were logically no telephones or WhatsApp, trumpets served as a communication system to coordinate communities. Six of the conch shells were found in the Gavà mines, suggesting their use to send signals between workers in the different underground galleries or to communicate with surrounding agricultural settlements. Its importance. This discovery is not trivial, since it opens up the debate on the origin of music in humanity. The question is quite clear: Was it born out of pure utilitarian need (coordinate hunting, warning of dangers) or out of an aesthetic and emotional need? For now, it can be concluded that both functions were used together. They were pragmatic tools for social management and work in the mines, but their melodic capacity could also be used in the rituals or celebrations of different tribes. Images | Steve Adams In Xataka | Neither lions nor hyenas: at the top of the food chain 30 million years ago, there was a “pig” weighing more than a thousand kilos

That’s why only one Ferrari SC40 will be manufactured

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The Ferrari F40 is one of the most legendary and recognizable models of the Maranello brand, considered by many to be the last “pure” Ferrari, given that it was the last one that Enzo Ferrari approved before his death in 1988. A client of the brand asked Ferrari to make one of his dreams come true: a car that maintained the essence of the F40, but adapted to current trends and technologies. This is how the Ferrari SC40 was born, a unique creationcustom designed and with the guarantee that no more units will be manufactured because, like dreams, each one is exclusive to the person who owns it. A Ferrari F40 version 2.0 Ferrari has launched a new unique supercar called SC40, which is not just another car, but an exclusive creation designed to fulfill a personal dream of a very special client. Instead of mass-producing a model, this one-off represents a tribute to the legendary Ferrari F40, one of the brand’s most iconic supercars presented in July 1987. This initiative shows how Ferrari is dedicated to “fulfilling the dreams of its customers” through of unique projects in its Special Projects Program. The Ferrari SC40 is not a simple reissue of the F40, but a modern reinterpretation influenced by the design and essence of the model approved by Enzo Ferrari, but manufactured with the latest technology and contemporary materials. The closest that Ferrari fans will be able to get to this supercar will be in the model that will be exhibited at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, since the only real unit that will be manufactured will go directly to the garage of the person who commissioned it. The SC40 project lasted approximately two years, during which the proportions and details were designed together with the Ferrari Design Center. “It does not seek to be a literal replica, but rather a reinterpretation with personality,” they say. from the brand. In its mechanical base, the SC40 shares the chassis, the eight-speed F1 DCT transmission and the hybrid propulsion of the Ferrari 296 GTB. A 3.0-liter biturbo V6 engine has been integrated along with a 122 kW electric motor and a 7.45 kWh battery, adding a total combined power of 830 horsepower and torque close to 740 Nm. These figures make it possible to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and reach a maximum speed of over 330 km/h, significantly faster than those of the original F40, which had 478 horses that catapulted it to 320 km/h. Reminiscent of the F40, but it is not The design of the SC40 stands out for its long, low nose, a short rear overhang and a raised fixed spoiler, elements that combine style and functionality. The headlights, located at the ends, take us to the peculiar front of the F40, although they dispense with the retractable headlight mechanism of the original model. Like the model from which it is inspired, Ferrari has used carbon fiber and Kevlar. The same materials that allowed the Italian manufacturer to reduce the weight of the F40 to only 1,100 Kg and provide it with sufficient torsional rigidity so that will not disintegrate under its power. The “SC40” lettering embossed on the side of the spoiler is a clear nod to the one sported by Ferrari’s legendary supercar. The brand of The Prancing Horse has designed a specific color for this exclusive collector’s item: Bianco SC40. Direct and at the foot. Ferrari’s commitment to exclusivity creating unique cars for its best clients represents a growing trend in the automotive luxury sector. Other supercar manufacturers, such as Lamborghini with his Opera UnicaRolls-Royce or Bentley offer authentic bespoke works of art, turning each car into an exclusive collector’s item. Dreaming is freebut having a unique and unrepeatable Ferrari piece in your garage doesn’t have to be cheap. In Xataka | A $700,000 Ferrari F40 spent a decade parked in a Munich garage: its owner had forgotten where he had it Image | Ferrari

Spain wants us to buy electric cars that are manufactured here. And it has just released another 400 million euros for it

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2035. That is the date that Europe has marked on the calendar as the end of the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles. Despite the voices against it, the EU believes that removing the combustion cars and reduce emissions of those sold until then is the way to get the decarbonization goals. Spain has to join this initiative and, to do so, it has just added 400 million euros more to the PERTE VEC project. Because the future of mobility seems to be electric… or it won’t be. PERTE VEC. The Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation of the Electric and Connected Vehicle, or PERTE VECit is a initiative which was approved in July 2021 with the aim of creating a favorable Spanish ecosystem for the development and manufacturing of electric vehicles. It is a program that foresees a total investment of more than 24,000 million euros with a public contribution of more than 4,000 million and, the rest, private investment. And the objective is that: to help companies see Spain as an interesting ecosystem to carry out the vehicle development and manufacturing process. This includes production, but also innovation and research in components, batteries and other technologies associated with the electric vehicle. 400 million more. With this objective of facilitating the green transition of the automobile fleet, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism just launched the fourth call of the PERTE VEC. In total, 400 million euros more to give value to this production chain, which are divided into: 250 million euros as repayable loans to a fixed interest of 2.8% and a term of 10 years. 150 million euros in direct subsidies. New call. Companies that wish to do so have from October 14, 2025 to October 24 to register. These 400 million are a fraction of the total of PERTE VEC IV, which has a budget of 1,250 million euros that will be released in successive phases. And no, it is not a program like the MOVES III, which directly concerns the consumer: the PERTE VEC is focused on companies. A limitation is that they cannot be public sector companies and must have demonstrated capacity to carry out their projects. Complying with this, the beneficiaries can be all those companies with their own legal personality in our country that carry out activities related to the development of electric vehicles. This implies that they do not have to be the big brands, but also companies that manufacture batteries, electrical components, charging systems or even those that develop software. Chinese brands included. As long as they meet the requirements, Chinese companies can also benefit from this. The Asian giant saw before many others the importance of the transition to electric as a way to support the achievement of decarbonization objectives and, in fact, this European ambition is something that we have been witnesses for months. The objective of measures like this is, precisely, that value chains are established in our territory and that companies are not limited to bring your cars on big ships from china either simply to assemble them in Europebut to make them here. And an example that Chinese companies are welcome was the formal invitation from the Ministry of Industry to the Chery company to present its application to the PERTE VEC. Image | Stellantis In Xataka | The biggest electric car explosion in Europe is called Belgium and there is a good reason: the State pays for the car

95% of plastics are manufactured with oil and gas. Japan has gotten a bacterium in place

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The world is flooded with plastic. There are microplastics even in our testicles. And the vast majority of them are manufactured from fossil fuels, which aggravates our dependence on these non -renewable resources. In Japan, a bioingenier team from the University of Kobe has found a promising solution. From Pet to PDCA. 95% of the plastics that we use in our day to day are manufactured from oil and gas (98%, if we add coal). In containers, textiles and to the interior of the cars we find a plastic known as polyethylene terephthalate or PET. The objective is to find a high performance alternative to the PET using renewable and biodegradable sources. Exists. It is called pyridineodycarboxylic acid (PDCA) and is a environment -respecting monomer that, when it is polymerized, has comparable physical properties or even superior to those of the PET. The problem, until now, had been to produce large -scale PDCA. Traditional methods to synthesize it are not very efficient and generate unwanted by -products. The solution: a bacterium. The novelty of Japanese research, published in the magazine Metabolic Engineeringis that it uses the cellular metabolism of the bacteria Escherichia coli To produce PDCA from glucose. Unlike the previous bioproduction methods, this makes the bacteria assimilate nitrogen and build the compound from beginning to end, eliminating the problem of by -products. While the existing bioproduction methods They had encountered limitations regarding the quantity and purity of the final compound, bioreactors based on this bacterium are capable of making a clean PDCA synthesis at more than seven times higher concentrations. And with abundant and cheap raw material. E. coli as factory operators. The process has not been exempt from difficulties. The largest bottleneck was to prevent one of the enzymes introduced into the bacteria to produce hydrogen peroxide, a highly reactive compound that deactivated the enzyme itself. The researchers managed to overcome this obstacle by refining the crops and adding a compound capable of eliminating hydrogen peroxide. Now they look for a more profitable solution for large -scale production. The future of bioplastic. Despite the pending challenge, this progress feels the foundations of large -scale plastic microbial synthesis. The practical implementation of bioreactors for the production of high performance PDCA is not only possible, but is a step closer to becoming a reality at an industrial scale. Image | USDA In Xataka | Scientists already investigate a solution to climate change and famines: eat us plastic

If we cannot manufacture chips, we will at least control how they are manufactured

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The Dutch company ASML has invested 1.3 billion euros in Mistral AIbecoming your greatest shareholder. Far from being another financial operation, reading is that it is Europe trying to control world semiconductor manufacturing. Without manufacturing a single chip. The current situation. ASML already has the absolute monopoly of the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines (EUV)the only ones capable of manufacturing chips of less than 7 nanometers. Without their teams of 180 million dollars, nor TSMC, nor Samsung, nor can they produce advanced semiconductors. Now he also wants to control the software that optimizes those machines. Why is it important. The processes of photolithography They generate data petabytes. A 1% improvement in production yield can use thousands of millions. If Mistral becomes the standard AI to optimize ASML machines, Europe would control both hardware and “brain” that makes it work. This play resolves the current technological trilema: the United States designs the chips, Asia manufactures them. And Europe? Europe could control the tools and processes that make its manufacture possible. The context. TSMC has already begun to use Nvidia to optimize its plants. China develops its own systems. If ASML does not act, its Asian customers will optimize the machines without their participation, turning their technology into a Commodity. With Mistraleach software update would be a reason to maintain the monopoly. And most valuable: they would have access to the most critical manufacturing data in the world. Yes, but. The operation has its risks. Mistral needs Nvidia chips to train its models (irony: use American technology to control world manufacturing). And China could accelerate its efforts of technological independence if you perceive this alliance as a hostile. In addition, going from language models to specialized industrialized is not a triviality. Mistral will need very specific talent, which today works in Google or TSMC. In perspective. This alliance recognizes an uncomfortable reality: Europe has lost the battle of direct chips manufacturing. But you can win the process control war. It is like not knowing how to cook but owns all ovens and recipes. Once the factories optimize their processes with Mistralchanging another system would be extremely expensive. He is a technical lock disguised as a service. The long -term game. Between 2025 and 2027 we will see the integration of Mistral models into the ASML software. By 2030, Europe could have a duo that controls how all the advanced chips in the world are manufactured. In the end this story does not go on chatbots or on generative. It is about using AI as a Trojan horse to insert European dependence on the most critical process of the digital economy. ASML already showed that You can master an industry by controlling a single key point. Now he wants to control two: the hardware and the software that optimizes it. In Xataka | Le chat from Mistral AI: What is it, how it works and what can this artificial intelligence chat done in Europe do Outstanding image |

Ukraine has just opened the tanks used by Russia. The surprise is capital: West has manufactured them

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In the war there are also “unboxing”, but of combat drones. In fact, this is how they have been revealed from hidden messages of the troops of Moscow, until The origin of the vast majority of technology components (with big surprises). It was also revealed to what extent China is part of the war machinery, or even that the power of these unmanned combat planes has Nvidia as an engine major. What we did not know so far is what was inside the Russian tanks. Foreign dependence. Yeah, Revelation of Ukrainian intelligence on the massive use of Western and Asian teams in the production of Russian tanks has revealed to what extent Kremlin’s industrial self -sufficiency It is compromised. He Updated report Del Gur details more than 260 high precision machines employed by uralvagonzavodthe only great manufacturer of combat cars in Russia and responsible for the entire range of T-seriesfrom the V-72 veterans to him T-14 Armata. Made in the West. The majority of these teams, which include American vertical lathes, Italian folding German machining centers and presses, were acquired in the fifteen years prior to 2022during military modernization prior to the invasion of Ukraine. In other words, although they do not constitute violations of the most recent sanctions, their presence in Russian factories raises a continuity problem: Without spare parts or software updates, armored production runs the risk of degrading quickly. The central role of Uralvagonzavod. Based in the urales, Uralvagonzavod It concentrates the heart of the Russian capacity of armor, holding a production that is estimated at 20 to 30 new tanks per month, despite the pressure of the war. In 2024 he opened a equipped engines plant with European CNC machinesevidence of how even in the middle of the war campaign Russia continued to benefit from foreign technology through indirect routes and third countries. The gur warns That these deliveries, although more complicated and expensive due to the sanctions, have not stopped, which keeps alive the assembly line of the Russian armored ones. The paradox is that the Soviet industrial prestige, once a symbol of self -sufficiency, now rests largely on the legacy of foreign machinery. The strategic dimension. The Published list By Ukraine, which also collects 42 types of equipment from Austria, Japan, South Korea and China, points to a broader pattern: Russia uses a total of 1,396 foreign machines in 169 factories linked to the invasion. Each of these teams It is documented through contracts, recordings and files of state acquisitions, which gives the probative weight to the complaint. The Ukrainian message seems clear: when cutting access to spare parts, technical fluids and software licenses, the Russian military industrial base can be strangled. kyiv has proposed Reinforced diligence measures, such as adding GPS trackers to exported machines and demanding in situ inspections, in order to prevent their products from ending up holding the enemy war industry. Vulnerability mirrors. We have counted before. The finding of Western components and Chinese in drones long -range manufactured by Moscow, local versions of the Iranian Shahed, reinforces the thesis that the Russian military industry depends critically on foreign pieces. Kremlin can hide this weakness With propaganda On its technological autonomy, but in practice its war machine is based on gears manufactured in countries that are today part of the Block that sanctions it. Putin himself, aware of the limits of production, He publicly admitted In April that “there are not enough weapons”, reflecting the tensions between the self -sufficiency discourse and the reality of an industry that, without access to the West, runs the risk of being paralyzed. The industrial Achilles heel. If you want, the Ukrainian complaint converts the Russian dependence on a strategic Achilles heel: while its army spends armored in the front at a higher pace, the ability to manufacture new depends on Machines that do not control. If the sanctions manage to isolate Moscow with spare parts and services, the ability to sustain their war effort could deteriorate irreversibly. When exposing these vulnerabilities, kyiv not only seeks to weaken the enemy, but also directly involve To Western manufacturers and governments in the supervision of their export chains, remembering that another battle is fought in the Ural workshops: that of the industrial pulse that can decide war. Image | Вталий кзьин In Xataka | Ukraine has opened the most advanced Drone Kamikaze in Russia. Now they know what the key to their power is: nvidia In Xataka | Ukraine has hunted an “invisible” drone of Russia. The surprise has been capitalized when opening it: it is “made in USA”

Soon one of them will stop being manufactured

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Little time has passed since Nintendo announced his second pack For the Nintendo Switch 2 And now we are in a crucial moment for those who want to opt for one of the two packs that are available. The reason? In a short time one of the two will stop manufacturing. To give context, these are the two packs that are now available: Nintendo Switch 2 + ‘Mario Kart World‘ by 509 euros. Nintendo Switch 2 + ‘Pokémon legends: za‘ by 509 euros. Nintendo Switch 2 + ‘Mario Kart World’ * Some price may have changed from the last review Nintendo Switch 2 + ‘Pokémon legends: za’ * Some price may have changed from the last review A key moment to choose pack The pack with ‘Mario Kart World’ will stop manufacturing next October. What should be an indicated date for Nintendo, it is a bittersweet moment. On October 16, the second pack will be launched which includes the Nintendo Switch 2 along with ‘Pokémon legends: za‘, but it will also be the date (the month really) in which the Nintendo Switch 2 pack will stop manufacturing along with’Mario Kart World‘, as our 3DJUGOS colleagues collected in their day. That is why right now we are in an important and interesting time in order to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 in Pack, since We can choose between one of the two that are available: that of ‘Mario Kart World’ for having been launched and that of ‘Pokémon legends: za’ for being in reserve period. This does not mean that as of October you can not buy the ‘Mario Kart World’ pack: it is the date on which it will stop manufacturing, but It is likely that stores continue to have stock for a timeas happened similarly with ‘Super Mario 3D All-Stars‘, that He stopped manufacturing and disappeared from eShopalthough it was available in stores for a brief period of time. You may also interest you Zelda Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition * Some price may have changed from the last review Donkey Kong Bananza- Switch 2 * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Image | Alejandro AlcoleaNintendo In Xataka | The best accessories for your switch: covers, transport bags, batteries, and more In Xataka | What Micro SD card for Nintendo Switch buy. Better recommendations and 10 outstanding models

In 1980 Europe manufactured 700 aircraft to fumigate crops. Now they carry guided air-air missiles to “fumigate” Russian drones

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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 In Xataka | Russia has had an idea to make your kamikaze drones more lethal: launch them on Ukraine at 500 km/h In Xataka | Russia’s most advanced nuclear submarine was a secret. Until Ukraine has revealed everything, even his failures

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