Armed Assault Wiki

NOTE: This article is about the M47 Dragon ATGM in ArmA 2's Operation Arrowhead expansion pack. For its counterpart in ArmA 3's CSLA Iron Curtain Creator DLC, see M47 Dragon (CSLA).


« The M47 Dragon is an older American shoulder-fired, man-portable anti-tank missile system, replaced by FGM-148 Javelin some time ago. M47 used a wire-guidance system in concert with a high explosive anti-tank warhead, which can penetrate armor of earlier Soviet main battle tanks.
Armoury Description[1]
»
The M47 Dragon 140 mm missile launcher.
The M47 Dragon 140 mm missile launcher.

The M47 Dragon is a 140 mm anti-tank missile launcher used exclusively by Takistani anti-government rebels in ArmA 2. It was added with the release of the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.

Overview[]

This is a premium asset that requires ownership of the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.

The Dragon is a portable wire-guided, anti-tank guided missile launcher.

It can load and fire missiles fitted with 140 mm high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads. Using wire-guidance, it is capable of hitting ground vehicles at distances of up to 1,500 metres.[CfgAm 1] The launcher is fitted with an optical sight that can toggle between either normal day or night vision modes.[CfgWp 4]

Role-wise, the Dragon is comparable to the U.S. Javelin or Russian 9K115 ATGM launchers. Like both platforms, the Dragon is a shoulder-launched ATGM system that is designed to take out Main Battle Tanks and other armoured vehicles alike from a safe distance.

In spite of this however, it is nonetheless an extremely weak weapon for an ATGM launcher. While heavy damage is guaranteed for older Soviet-era tanks such as the T-72 or T-55, the same cannot be said for the latest Russian-made tanks like the T-90 or the American M1A2. Both will easily shrug off the Dragon's HEAT warhead unless the missile strikes a vulnerable component like the engine or tracks.[CfgAm 2]

Given that its missiles weigh the same as the Javelin's (up to six slots per missile)[CfgMa 2] but inflicts reduced damage, lacks autonomous guidance, and has a much shorter operating range, the Dragon is quite redundant in the face of modern ATGM systems. Unless absolutely necessary, the Dragon should be avoided in favour of better launchers.

Optics[]

Arma2-dragon-ironsight-overview

The M47 Dragon's optical sight cannot be manually zeroed. It has the ability to switch between normal day or night vision modes.[CfgWp 4] Its magnification can be adjusted between a minimum setting of 0.35x[CfgWp 5][Formula 1] or up to a maximum of 9x[CfgWp 6][Formula 2], though it defaults to using a setting of 4x zoom if left unchanged.[CfgWp 7][Formula 3] The reticle's markings are not illuminated and are only coloured in black.

Arma2-dragon-ironsight-specifics

The sight's reticle features a crosshair with stadia lines that can be used to determine if a target vehicle is within attacking range of the user. To maximise the chances of landing a successful hit, adjust the sight's magnification until the target vehicle's silhouette touches the stadia lines on both sides. Shortly after firing, reposition the centre of the reticle's crosshairs onto the target.

Arma2-dragon-ironsight-specifics2

Left: Estimating target's range with the half-stadia method. The target is still within range.
Right: Target is out of range.

Note that it is possible to estimate the target's range with only one half of the stadia. If the target's silhouette does not touch the stadia on one side and the centre bar of the crosshair, then it is considered to be outside the launcher's maximum engagement range.

Recoil curves[]

 
{
    title: {
        text: 'launcherBase'
    },
    tooltip: {
        trigger: 'axis',
        axisPointer: {
            type: 'cross',
            label: {
                backgroundColor: '#824100'
            }
        }
    },
    legend: {
        data: ['Time Taken', 'Kickback', 'Kick Up']
    },
    toolbox: {
        feature: {
            saveAsImage: {}
        }
    },
    grid: {
        left: '3%',
        right: '4%',
        bottom: '3%',
        containLabel: true
    },
    xAxis: [
        {
            name: 'Duration',
            nameLocation: 'middle',
            type: 'category',
            boundaryGap: false,
            data: ['0', '0.01', '0.02']
        }
    ],
    yAxis: [
        {
            name: 'Amplitude',
            nameLocation: 'end',
            type: 'value'
        }
    ],
    series: [
        {
            name: 'Time Taken',
            type: 'line',
            stack: 'Total',
            label: {
                show: true,
                position: 'top'
            },
            areaStyle: {},
            emphasis: {
                focus: 'series'
            },
            data: [0, 0.01, 0.025],
            smooth: true
        },
        {
            name: 'Kickback',
            type: 'line',
            stack: 'Total',
            label: {
                show: true,
                position: 'top'
            },
            areaStyle: {},
            emphasis: {
                focus: 'series'
            },
            data: [0, 0, 0],
            smooth: true
        },
        {
            name: 'Kick Up',
            type: 'line',
            stack: 'Total',
            label: {
                show: true,
                position: 'top'
            },
            areaStyle: {},
            emphasis: {
                focus: 'series'
            },
            data: [0, 0.05, 0],
            smooth: true
        }
    ]
}
Charts/graphs are not available on mobile. Please switch to desktop mode in order to see them.


Munitions[]

Arma1-ammunition-javelin

Dragon Missile

The Dragon only supports loading one type of missile.[CfgWp 8] It requires six[CfgMa 2] inventory slots to carry:

Parameter Value
Base damage value 360[CfgAm 2]
Splash damage value 9[CfgAm 3]
Warhead type High-Explosive Anti-Tank
Blast radius (metres) 1[CfgAm 4]
Launch velocity (m/s) 20[CfgMa 3]
Maximum speed (m/s) 200[CfgAm 5]

The Dragon does not have autonomous guidance and is exclusively guided via SACLOS.[CfgAm 6] It can be controlled up to a maximum distance of 1,500 metres.[CfgAm 1]

Dragon missiles are always fired with an initial velocity of 20 m/s.[CfgMa 3] 0.151 seconds after launch[CfgAm 7], the missile's motor will ignite and need only 1.5 seconds[CfgAm 8] of flight time to attain a top speed of 200 m/s.[CfgAm 5]

The missile's warhead has a blast radius of only 1 metre.[CfgAm 4] The missile only has enough fuel for 20 seconds of flight time and will automatically explode if the target is not hit within this timeframe.[CfgAm 9]

Trivia[]

  • At release, the Dragon functioned as an IR-guided launcher that could lock onto enemy vehicles without the need to guide it manually. This was changed after the release of the latest Steam version patches (as part of the Community Configuration Project), which correctly refactored the Dragon into a purely wire-guided launcher.[2]

Gallery[]

Config/script references[]

CfgAmmo

  1. 1.0 1.1 CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> maxControlRange
  2. 2.0 2.1 CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> hit
  3. CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> indirectHit
  4. 4.0 4.1 CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> indirectHitRange
  5. 5.0 5.1 CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> maxSpeed
  6. CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> manualControl
  7. CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> initTime
  8. CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> thrustTime
  9. CfgAmmo >> M_47_AT_EP1 >> timeToLive

CfgMagazines

  1. CfgMagazines >> Dragon_EP1 >> count
  2. 2.0 2.1 CfgMagazines >> Dragon_EP1 >> type >> "6 * 256"
  3. 3.0 3.1 CfgMagazines >> Dragon_EP1 >> initSpeed

CfgWeapons

  1. CfgWeapons >> M47Launcher_EP1 >> type >> "4"
  2. CfgWeapons >> M47Launcher_EP1 >> recoil
  3. CfgWeapons >> M47Launcher_EP1 >> dexterity
  4. 4.0 4.1 CfgWeapons >> M47Launcher_EP1 >> visionMode[] >> {"Normal","NVG"}
  5. CfgWeapons >> M47Launcher_EP1 >> opticsZoomMax >> "0.7"
  6. CfgWeapons >> M47Launcher_EP1 >> opticsZoomMin >> "0.0277"
  7. CfgWeapons >> M47Launcher_EP1 >> opticsZoomInit >> "0.0625"
  8. CfgWeapons >> M47Launcher_EP1 >> magazines[] >> {"Dragon_EP1"}

Formulae

  1. 0.25 / opticsZoomMax = 0.25 / 0.7
  2. 0.25 / opticsZoomMin = 0.25 / 0.0277
  3. 0.25 / opticsZoomInit = 0.25 / 0.0625

References[]

  1. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2010, AT/AA Launchers, Arma 2, viewed 5 March 2025, <https://www.arma2.com/arma-2-oa-weaponry/a-2-oa-ataa-launchers>.
  2. Foltyn, D, Španěl, M et al. 2013, Roadmap - Arma 2: Community Configuration Project, DevHeaven, viewed 20 April 2023, <http://web.archive.org/web/20130627131748/https://dev-heaven.net/projects/arma-2-ccp/roadmap>. (archived link)

External links[]

See also[]

Weapons of comparable role and configuration[]

Weapons of ArmA 2
Handguns CZ 75 9 mmG17 9 mmM1911 .45M9 9 mmMakarov 9 mmRevolver .45
Submachine guns CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1 9 mmMP5 9 mmPDW 9 mmPP-19 Bizon 9 mmSa-61 Scorpion .32
Shotguns M1014Saiga 12KAA-12
Carbines AKS-74U 5.45 mm* • G36 series* (G36C*, G36K*) • M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 M203, M4A3, M4A3 M203) • Mk16 CQC 5.56 mmXM8 Compact 5.56 mm
Assault rifles AK-107 5.45 mm (AK-107 GP-25) • AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GP-25*, AKS-74*) • AKM 7.62 mmAKS 7.62 mm* • CZ 805 BREN A1 5.56 mm (CZ 805 A1 G1, CZ 805 BREN A2, CZ 805 B1 G1) • FN FAL 7.62 mmG36A 5.56 mm* • L85A2 5.56 mm (L85A2 UGL) • M16A2 5.56 mm* (M16A2 M203*) • M16A4 5.56 mm (M16A4 M203) • SCAR series (Mk16, Mk16 EGLM, Mk17, Mk17 EGLM) • Sa-58 7.62 mmXM8 series (XM8, XM8 M320)
Designated marksman rifles DMR 7.62 mmL86A2 LSW 5.56 mmM14 7.62 mmMk12 SPR 5.56 mmMk17 Sniper 7.62 mmVSS Vintorez 9 mmXM8 Sharpshooter 5.56 mm
Sniper rifles AS50 12.7 mmCZ 550 9.3 mmCZ 750 S1 M1 .308KSVK 12.7 mm* • Lee-Enfield .303LRR .338M107 .50* • M110 7.62 mmM24 7.62 mm* (M40A3) • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm*
Squad automatic weapons L110A1 5.56 mmM249 SAW 5.56 mm* • MG36 5.56 mm* • RPK-74 5.45 mmXM8 Automatic Rifle 5.56 mm
Machineguns L7A2 GPMG 7.62 mmMk 48 Mod 0 7.62 mm* • M240 7.62 mm* • M60E4 7.62 mmPKP 7.62 mmPKM 7.62 mmUK-59 7.62 mm
Grenade launchers M32M79Mk13
Launchers 9K32 Strela-29K38 Igla9K115-2 Metis-MFGM-148 JavelinFIM-92F StingerM136M47 DragonMAAWSNLAWRPG-7VRPG-18SMAW
Static AGS-30D-30DShKMIgla AA PodKORDL111A1L134A1M119A1M2M252Mk19Metis AT-132B14 PodnosRBS-70SearchlightSPG-9StingerTOWZU-23
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
* indicates partial DLC dependency.
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces | Private Military Company | Army of the Czech Republic
Takistani Rebels - Armoury (ArmA 2)
Assault rifles AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GP-25, AKS-74) • AKM 7.62 mmAKS 7.62 mmFN-FAL 7.62 mmM16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 M203)
Sniper rifles Lee-Enfield .303SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm
Squad automatic weapons RPK-74 5.45 mm
Machineguns PKM 7.62 mm
Launchers FIM-92F StingerRPG-7V
Static D-30DShKM2B14 PodnosSPG-9ZU-23
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
Operation Arrowhead