The Drakon is the Israeli variant of the MIM-72 Chaparral, featuring a more powerful engine compared to its U.S. counterpart. This variant has access to the more advanced MIM-72G SAM, featuring advanced IRCCM that is on-par with the FIM-92 Stinger.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| IRST | Slow missile acceleration |
| Advanced IRCCM | Caged seeker |
| Large warhead | Poor maneuverability |
| Good mobility | Unprotected crew |
Main Armament
The main armament of the Drakon is the MIM-72G missile. It is a heavily upgraded missile with roots to the AIM-9D. It features a very advanced seeker that makes flaring this missile almost impossible. Unlike the seeker however, its maneuverability has remained the same as the AIM-9D which, when paired with the static launch of the missile causing less airflow over the fins, results in even lower maneuverability than the air-launched AIM-9D.
The launcher has decent traverse angles and a good traverse speed. It is also super-elevated meaning that the missiles are pointed slightly higher than where the seeker is pointing which helps prevent the missile from hitting the ground or nearby obstacles.
| IR Seeker lock-on ranges: (Approximate) | MIM-72E (Min — Max) | MIM-72G (Min — Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopter (Head On) | 2000m — 3000m | 2500m — 3500m |
| Helicopter (Rear/Side On) | 2500m — 3500m | 3000m — 4000m |
| Propeller Plane (All Aspects) | 1500m — 3000m | 2500m — 5000m |
| Jet Aircraft (Front Aspect) | 2000m — 4000m | 5000m — 7000m |
| Jet Aircraft (Side/Rear On) | 2000m — 6000m | 5000m — 8000m |
| Afterburner (Front Aspect) | 2500m — 4000m | 5000m — 8000m |
| Afterburner (Rear Aspect) | 4000m — 7000m | 5000m — 10000m |
Armor and Survivability
Being an open-topped variant of the M113, it has very little armor, mostly consisting of 8mm steel plates. Most of the crew is exposed and vulnerable to MG fire as well as shrapnel apart from the gunner that sits in an enclosed cabin protected by 8mm of steel as well as 40mm of glass.
Even if a shot doesn’t kill the crew, there is a very high probability that either the spare missiles or another internal component will be damaged, disabling this vehicle’s weapon system or even outright immobilizing it.
Mobility
The mobility of the Drakon is excellent. Featuring an upgraded engine that provides 275HP, it is able to get up to its top speed of 61kph quite easily, even in rough terrain. The reverse speed is also not that bad, at 14kph it can be quite helpful when having to retreat to cover. Additionally due to the upgraded gearbox, it is significantly easier to climb hills compared to other early M113 variants, offering a significant advantage allowing for getting to more unexpected positions, reducing the chance of getting shot by an enemy tank or getting destroyed by an enemy aircraft.
Conclusion
The Drakon is a fragile AA platform, relying on its mobility to get in a good position and having access to very advanced seeker which allows for longer range shots against unsuspecting aircraft. The primary targets for this vehicle are aircraft flying in a straight line preparing for their attack run or helicopters that come within the seeker’s lock range.
If spotted, it is advised to immediately relocate using your good mobility since the vehicle lacks any munitions capable of fighting anything on the ground while also being extremely vulnerable to artillery strikes due to the open-top nature of this vehicle.
