A new video released by Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade shows the improvised Dragon H73 air defense missile system in action, using air-to-air R-73 missiles adapted for surface-to-air use.
+ Watch the video released by the brigade
The Dragon H73 is a short-range system mounted on a tactical HMMWV vehicle (also known as a Humvee), equipped with two R-73 missiles originally designed for fighter jets. In this new configuration, the missiles have been modified to function as surface-to-air weapons, aimed at drones, low-flying aircraft, and tactical aerial targets.
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According to the 3rd Assault Brigade — widely known as “Azov” — the system has proven effective in neutralizing reconnaissance and attack drones such as the Iranian-made Shahed-136, and can operate both during the day and at night.
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Fun fact: the name “H73” comes from the combination of the R-73 missile and the HMMWV vehicle base — a fully Ukrainian and self-developed solution.
The Dragon H73 is the fourth Ukrainian system to use R-73 missiles in an adapted way — alongside the unmanned surface vessel Magura, the British-made Gravehawk, and modified versions of the Soviet OSA system. According to Ukrainian military sources, the frequent use of the R-73 is due to the large stockpiles still available, especially amid shortages of more advanced Western weaponry.
Creative defense in times of war
The emergence of the Dragon H73 is another example of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ creativity during the war against Russia, repurposing air-launched weapons on ground platforms to maintain an active and mobile air defense capability.
The combination of simplicity, mobility, and availability makes the Dragon H73 an effective and low-cost solution for short-range combat — particularly against light and low-altitude threats.
Source and images: 3rd Assault Brigade “Azov” / Telegram @ab3army. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
