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NOTE: This article is about the PDW submachine gun in ArmA 2's Operation Arrowhead expansion pack. For the PDW2000 used by various factions in ArmA 3, see PDW2000. |
| « | The PDW was one of the first weapons to use a telescopical bolt design which allows for the magazine to be housed in the pistol grip, making the weapon a lot shorter. PDW is the most widespread submachine gun ever in military and police units. | » |

The PDW is a 9 mm submachine gun used in limited numbers by the Takistani Army in ArmA 2. It was added with the release of the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.
Overview[]
The PDW is a blowback-operated submachine gun that uses an open bolt design. It is chambered to fire the 9×19 mm cartridge.
It primarily feeds from 30-round box magazines, but is also able to load the same box/curved magazines used by the G17/M9 pistols and MP5A5 SMG.[CfgWp 9] It can attain a fire rate of up to 800 rounds per minute[CfgWp 10][Formula 1] and has a muzzle velocity of 400 m/s.[CfgMa 4] The PDW does not have the ability to mount optical sights or laser pointers/flashlights, but it does feature a sub-variant that is fitted with a sound suppressor.
True to its name, the PDW is utilised in limited numbers by the Takistani Army as a personal defence weapon. As a select-fire SMG, it is comparable to the newer Sa-61 Scorpion but is chambered to fire the 9 mm round instead. Where the PDW differs from the latter is its larger 30-round magazine and slightly better accuracy (~ 2% less dispersion).[CfgWp 2] In stark contrast to the Sa-61, the PDW can load not just its own 30-round magazines but also those used by the MP5A5 SMG and M9/G17 pistols (the Sa-61's proprietary 20-/10-round magazines can't be shared).[CfgWp 9]
Stopping power-wise, both SMGs are identical since the 9 mm and .32 ACP cartridge inflict the same amount of base damage.[CfgAm 1] The only real difference is that the PDW's ammunition is fired with a higher velocity of 400 m/s rather than 318 m/s (an increase of approximately ~ 22%).[CfgMa 4] However, this difference is negligible at best given that both SMGs have an effective firing range of only 100 metres or so.
That being said, the PDW's larger magazine capacity[CfgMa 1] and ability to feed from a wide variety of 9 mm weapon magazines ultimately makes it the better sidearm of the two. The PDW ideally complements the loadout of soldiers with slower-firing, semi-automatic only primary weapons like the SVD/KSVK sniper rifles.
Variants[]
PDW SD[]
| « | The PDW was one of the first weapons to use a telescoping bolt design which allows for the magazine to be housed in the pistol grip for a shorter weapon. This weapon is equipped with additional silencer. |
» |

The PDW SD is a suppressed version of the baseline PDW SMG.
There are a few statistical changes; namely, it has slightly less recoil when fired on full auto, the suppressor conceals the weapon's muzzle flash[CfgWp 19][CfgWp 20], and its usage of reduced velocity 9 mm ammunition makes it harder for enemies to detect the shooter from afar.
However, one major functional change with the PDW SD is that it is restricted to being able to load only three types of magazines. All of these magazines are loaded exclusively with reduced velocity 9 mm ammunition.[CfgWp 21] But aside from these differences, the PDW SD remains mostly identical to the baseline PDW SMG.
Ironsights[]
Recoil curves[]
Standing
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|
Prone
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|
Ammunition[]
| Ammo parameter | 9 mm (Ball/PDW) | 9 mm SD (Ball/PDW) | 9 mm (Ball/MP5) | 9 mm SD (Ball/MP5) | 9 mm (Ball/M9) | 9 mm SD (Ball/M9) | 9 mm (Ball/G17) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base damage value | 5[CfgAm 1] | 5[CfgAm 2] | 5[CfgAm 1] | 5[CfgAm 2] | 5[CfgAm 1] | 5[CfgAm 1] | 5[CfgAm 2] |
| Aerodynamic friction | -0.001513[CfgAm 3] | -0.001312[CfgAm 4] | -0.001513[CfgAm 3] | -0.001312[CfgAm 4] | -0.001513[CfgAm 3] | -0.001312[CfgAm 3] | -0.001513[CfgAm 4] |
| Muzzle velocity (m/s) | 400[CfgMa 4] | 320[CfgMa 7] | 400[CfgMa 8] | 320[CfgMa 9] | 398[CfgMa 10] | 315[CfgMa 11] | 360[CfgMa 12] |
| Expected velocity (m/s) | 398 [CfgAm 5][note 1] |
315 [CfgAm 6][note 1] |
398 [CfgAm 5][note 1] |
315 [CfgAm 6][note 1] |
398 [CfgAm 5][note 1] |
315 [CfgAm 6][note 1] |
398 [CfgAm 5][note 1] |
| Deflection angle (degrees) | 10°[CfgAm 7] | 10°[CfgAm 8] | 10°[CfgAm 7] | 10°[CfgAm 8] | 10°[CfgAm 8] | 10°[CfgAm 7] | 10°[CfgAm 8] |
Unsuppressed PDWs can load up to seven types of magazines[CfgWp 9] while the PDW SD is limited to only three of them[CfgWp 21] (specifically SD magazines loaded with reduced velocity 9 mm ammo):
- PDWs can load both 30-rounder PDW magazines, 30-round MP5-type magazines, 15-rounder M9 magazines, and 17-round G17-type magazines.
- PDW SDs can load only three types of magazines: 30-rounder PDW SD magazines, 30-round MP5SD magazines, and 15-round M9 SD magazines.
It should also be noted that the PDW's dedicated 30-round magazines can be shared with most 9 mm-chambered SMGs and pistols.[note 2] However, they cannot be loaded by the CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1 (and vice versa).
Inventory space-wise, the MP5A5/MP5SD6's magazines occupy at least one[CfgMa 13][CfgMa 14] primary weapon magazine slot. On the other hand, M9[CfgMa 15], G17[CfgMa 16] and PDW[CfgMa 17][CfgMa 18] magazines specifically take up one secondary weapon magazine slot instead:
PDW Mag.[]
Standard 30-round box magazine. It is loaded with 9 mm ball ammunition.[CfgMa 19]
None of the rounds fired will emit visible tracers.
PDW SD Mag.[]
Alternate 30-round PDW-type box magazine loaded with reduced velocity 9 mm ball ammunition.[CfgMa 20] Rounds fired from this magazine specifically have a lower muzzle velocity of 320 m/s instead.[CfgMa 7]
This magazine can be loaded by the PDW SD.
MP5 Mag.[]
30-round MP5-type loaded with 9 mm ball ammunition.[CfgMa 21]
None of the rounds fired will emit visible tracers.
MP5SD Mag.[]
Special 30-rounder magazine loaded with reduced velocity 9 mm ball ammunition.[CfgMa 22] Rounds fired from this magazine specifically have a lower muzzle velocity of 320 m/s instead.[CfgMa 9]
This magazine can be loaded by the PDW SD.
M9 Mag.[]
15-rounder magazine used by M9 pistols. It is loaded with 9 mm ball ammunition.[CfgMa 23]
Rounds fired from this magazine specifically have a lower muzzle velocity of 398 m/s.[CfgMa 10]
M9SD Mag.[]
Alternate 15-rounder M9-type magazine loaded with reduced velocity 9 mm ball ammunition.[CfgMa 24]
Rounds fired from this magazine specifically have a lower muzzle velocity of 315 m/s.[CfgMa 11]
This magazine can be loaded by the PDW SD.
G17 Mag.[]
17-round box magazine used by G17 pistols. It is loaded with 9 mm ball ammunition[CfgMa 25] and has a lower muzzle velocity of 360 m/s.[CfgMa 12]
None of the rounds fired from this magazine will emit visible tracers.
Magazine compatibility[]
| Weapon name (Classname) |
PDW Mag.![]() |
PDW SD Mag.![]() |
MP5 Mag.![]() |
MP5SD Mag.![]() |
M9 Mag.![]() |
M9SD Mag.![]() |
G17 Mag.![]() |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDW (UZI_EP1) |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| PDW SD (UZI_SD_EP1) |
✗ | ✔ | ✗ | ✔ | ✗ | ✔ | ✗ |
Trivia[]
- The PDW is based on the real-life "Micro Uzi" variant of the "Uzi" family of SMGs designed by the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).
- It is technically a weapon that belongs to the Takistani Army but none of the faction's units wield it by default. Without the usage of scripting commands, it can only be found in Takistani Army weapon crates and specific missions in the expansion pack's main campaign (specifically at the start of the Pathfinder mission).
- Like the Sa-61, the PDW is technically classified as an SMG but is treated as a sidearm in-game. It cannot be equipped as a primary weapon.
- Prior to the latest Steam version patches, the PDW had better accuracy and its 9 mm ammunition actually dealt higher base damage than that of the Sa-61's .32 ACP. CorePatch's changes subsequently buffed .32 ACP to be on par with the PDW's 9 mm cartridge while the PDW's accuracy was nerfed and had its dispersion increased significantly.[3]
Gallery[]
Config/script references[]
CfgAmmo
CfgMagazines
CfgWeapons
Formulae
|
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2010, Handguns, Arma 2, viewed 4 April 2025, <https://www.arma2.com/arma-2-oa-weaponry/arma2-oa-handguns>.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2010, Weaponry, Arma 2, viewed 5 March 2025, <https://www.arma2.com/arma-2-pmc-weaponry/arma2-rft-weapons>.
- ↑ Mazzon, M et al. 2019, CorePatch, GitHub, viewed 20 August 2024, <https://github.com/Goliath86/CorePatch/blob/master/Changelog.txt>.
External links[]
See also[]
Weapons of comparable role and configuration[]
- Ingram (Outdated FIA/Nogovan Partisans predecessor, ArmA: CWA only)
- Sa-61 Scorpion (Soviet/factionless counterpart, ArmA: CWA/ArmA 2: OA only)
| Handguns | Makarov 9 mm • Revolver .45 |
| Submachine guns | PDW 9 mm |
| Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm • M4A1 5.56 mm |
| Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GP-25, AKS-74) • FN-FAL 7.62 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 M203) |
| Sniper rifles | KSVK 12.7 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
| Squad automatic weapons | RPK-74 5.45 mm |
| Machineguns | M240 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm |
| Launchers | 9K32 Strela-2 • Metis-M 9K115-2 • RPG-7V • RPG-18 |
| Static | AGS-30 • D-30 • Igla AA Pod • KORD • Metis AT-13 • 2B14 Podnos • Searchlight • SPG-9 • ZU-23 |
| (Parenthesis) denote variants. | Operation Arrowhead | |









