Chaparral, Ukrainian Style: A HMMWV-Based Air Defense Vehicle Armed with R-73s

Troops from Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade have revealed details about a mobile air defense system armed with R-73 missiles and mounted on a HMMWV chassis.

In a video released by the brigade’s press service, the system was identified as the Dragon H73 MAZRK (with “M” indicating mobile).

It is designed to engage tactical aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles and is capable of operating both day and night.
The Dragon H73 is likely based on the M1097A1 or M1097A2 variant of the HMMWV—chassis types also used in the U.S. AN/TWQ-1 Avenger system.

The vehicle features a rotating launcher fitted with two rails for R-73 air-to-air missiles.

Depending on the version, the R-73 can hit targets in the forward hemisphere at ranges of 20 km (RMD-1) to 40 km (RMD-2).

Unlike the modified missiles used in the British Gravehawk system, the R-73s on the Dragon H73 retain full-size control surfaces. This enables the use of stockpiled missiles without the need for additional adaptation.

An optical sighting unit with a thermal imaging channel appears to be mounted between the rails, allowing for nighttime target acquisition.

It is assumed that the system can also receive external targeting data from radar stations.

During combat, the vehicle aligns the missile toward the target, enabling its infrared seeker to lock on either before or after launch.

The armored cab also includes electronic warfare systems, suggesting the Dragon H73 may be intended for operations near or along the front line.

Ukraine’s defense industry has previous experience integrating R-73 missiles into older air defense systems.
The Ukrainian defense-industrial complex already has experience in large-scale modernization of existing anti-aircraft systems with the integration of R-73 missiles.

In December 2023, the Come Back Alive Foundation announced it had upgraded 9K33M3 Osa systems to fire both standard 9M33M3 surface-to-air missiles and R-73s.