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BM-21 Grad

Updated: Wikipedia source

BM-21 Grad

The BM-21 "Grad" (Russian: БМ-21 "Град", lit. 'hailstorm') is a self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union. The system and the M-21OF rocket were first developed in the early 1960s, and saw their first combat use in March 1969 during the Sino-Soviet border conflict. BM stands for boyevaya mashina (Russian: боевая машина – combat vehicle), and the nickname grad means "hail". The complete system with the BM-21 launch vehicle and the M-21OF rocket is designated as the M-21 field-rocket system and is more commonly known as a Grad multiple rocket launcher system. In NATO countries the system, either the complete system or the launch vehicle only, was initially known as the M1964. Several other countries have copied the Grad or developed similar systems. In Russian service its intended replacement is the 9A52-4 Tornado. Many similar 122 mm MLRS systems are made by different countries based on the BM-21 Grad.

Infobox

Type
Multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin
Soviet Union
In service
1963–present
Used by
See operators
Wars
Sino-Soviet border conflict Vietnam War Lebanese Civil War Western Sahara War Eritrean War of Independence Angolan Civil War Ogaden War South African Border War Uganda–Tanzania War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese War Iran–Iraq War Soviet–Afghan War Afghan Civil War (1989–1992) Second Sudanese Civil War Gulf War First Nagorno-Karabakh War Yugoslav Wars War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) First Chechen War 1995 Cenepa War Kargil War Second Chechen War Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel Ethiopian invasion of Somalia Russo-Georgian War Cambodian–Thai border dispute Gaza War (2008-2009) 2012 Gaza War Bombardment of Yeonpyeong First Libyan Civil War Syrian civil war Northern Mali conflict War in Donbas 2014 Gaza War Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Second Nagorno-Karabakh War Tigray War Western Saharan clashes (2020–present) Russian invasion of Ukraine 2023 Las Anod conflict Gaza war Kivu conflict 2025 Cambodian–Thai clashes
Designer
Splav State Research and Production Enterprise
Designed
1963
Manufacturer
Splav State Research and Production Enterprise
Produced
1963–present
No. built
100,000
Variants
See Variants
Mass
13.71 tonnes (30,225 lb)
Length
7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)
Barrel length
3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Width
2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Height
3.09 m (10 ft 2 in)
Crew
3
Caliber
122 mm
Barrels
40
Rate of fire
2 rounds/s
Muzzle velocity
690 m/s (2,264 ft/s)
Effective firing range
0.5–52 km
Sights
PG-1M panoramic telescope
Engine
V8 gasoline ZiL-375180 hp (130 kW)
Suspension
6×6 wheeled
Operationalrange
405 km (251 mi)
mw- Maximum speed
75 km/h (47 mph)

Tables

· Projectiles
metres
metres
Col 1
metres
Origin
miles
Ammunition type
metres
Minimum range
miles
Minimum range
metres
Maximum range
ft in
Maximum range
kg
Length
lb
Length
kg
Weight
lb
9M22U (M-21OF)
9M22U (M-21OF)
Col 1
9M22U (M-21OF)
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
5,000
Minimum range
3.1
Maximum range
20,380
Maximum range
12.66
Length
2.87
Length
9 ft 5 in
Weight
66.6
Weight
147
Warhead weight
18.4
Warhead weight
41
9M18
9M18
Col 1
9M18
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
POM-2 submunitions
9M28F
9M28F
Col 1
9M28F
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
1,500
Minimum range
0.93
Maximum range
15,000
Maximum range
9.3
Length
2.27
Length
7 ft 5 in
Weight
56.5
Weight
125
Warhead weight
21.0
Warhead weight
46.3
9M28K
9M28K
Col 1
9M28K
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Anti-tank mines
Minimum range
13,400
Maximum range
8.3
Maximum range
3.04
Length
10 ft 0 in
Length
57.7
Weight
127
Weight
22.8
Warhead weight
50
9M43
9M43
Col 1
9M43
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Smoke
Minimum range
20,000
Maximum range
12
Maximum range
2.95
Length
9 ft 8 in
Length
66
Weight
146
Weight
20.2
Warhead weight
45
9M217
9M217
Col 1
9M217
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Anti-tank submunitions
Minimum range
30,000
Maximum range
19
Maximum range
3.04
Length
10 ft 0 in
Length
70
Weight
150
Weight
25
Warhead weight
55
9M218
9M218
Col 1
9M218
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
HEAT submunitions
Minimum range
30,000
Maximum range
19
Maximum range
3.04
Length
10 ft 0 in
Length
70
Weight
150
Weight
25
Warhead weight
55
9M519
9M519
Col 1
9M519
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
RF jammer
Minimum range
18,500
Maximum range
11.5
Maximum range
3.04
Length
10 ft 0 in
Length
66
Weight
146
Weight
18.4
Warhead weight
41
9M521
9M521
Col 1
9M521
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
40,000
Maximum range
25
Maximum range
2.87
Length
9 ft 5 in
Length
66
Weight
146
Weight
21
Warhead weight
46
9M522
9M522
Col 1
9M522
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
37,500
Maximum range
23.3
Maximum range
3.04
Length
10 ft 0 in
Length
70
Weight
150
Weight
25
Warhead weight
55
PRC-60
PRC-60
Col 1
PRC-60
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Underwater charge (for BM-21PD)
Minimum range
300
Minimum range
0.19
Maximum range
5,000
Maximum range
3.1
Length
2.75
Length
9 ft 0 in
Weight
75.3
Weight
166
Warhead weight
20
Warhead weight
44
Type 90A
Type 90A
Col 1
Type 90A
Origin
China
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
12,700
Minimum range
7.9
Maximum range
32,700
Maximum range
20.3
Length
2.75
Length
9 ft 0 in
Weight
18.3
Warhead weight
40
M21-OF-FP
M21-OF-FP
Col 1
M21-OF-FP
Origin
Romania
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
5,000–6,000
Minimum range
3.1–3.7
Maximum range
20,400
Maximum range
12.7
Length
2.87
Length
9 ft 5 in
Weight
65.4
Weight
144
Warhead weight
6.35
Warhead weight
14.0
M21-OF-S
M21-OF-S
Col 1
M21-OF-S
Origin
Romania
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
1,000
Minimum range
0.62
Maximum range
12,700
Maximum range
7.9
Length
1.927
Length
6 ft 3.9 in
Weight
46.6
Weight
103
Warhead weight
6.35
Warhead weight
14.0
Edepro G2000/52
Edepro G2000/52
Col 1
Edepro G2000/52
Origin
Serbia
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
40,200
Maximum range
25.0
Maximum range
2.862
Length
9 ft 4.7 in
Length
64.4
Weight
142
Weight
19.0
Warhead weight
41.9
Sakr-45A
Sakr-45A
Col 1
Sakr-45A
Origin
Egypt
Ammunition type
AT / AP submunitions
Minimum range
42,000
Maximum range
26
Maximum range
3.31
Length
10 ft 10 in
Length
67.5
Weight
149
Weight
24.5
Warhead weight
54
Sakr-45B
Sakr-45B
Col 1
Sakr-45B
Origin
Egypt
Ammunition type
Fragmentation-HE
Minimum range
45,000
Maximum range
28
Maximum range
2.9
Length
9 ft 6 in
Length
63.5
Weight
140
Weight
20.5
Warhead weight
45
9M22S
9M22S
Col 1
9M22S
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Incendiary
Minimum range
1,500
Minimum range
0.93
Maximum range
19,890
Maximum range
12.36
Length
2.97
Length
9 ft 9 in
Weight
66
Weight
146
Warhead weight
17.8
Warhead weight
39
9M28S
9M28S
Col 1
9M28S
Origin
USSR/Russia
Ammunition type
Incendiary
Minimum range
1,650
Minimum range
1.03
Maximum range
15,070
Maximum range
9.36
Length
2.318
Length
7 ft 7.3 in
Weight
53
Weight
117
Warhead weight
17.8
Warhead weight
39
Origin
Ammunition type
Minimum range
Maximum range
Length
Weight
Warhead weight
metres
miles
metres
miles
metres
ft in
kg
lb
kg
lb
9M22U (M-21OF)
USSR/Russia
Fragmentation-HE
5,000
3.1
20,380
12.66
2.87
9 ft 5 in
66.6
147
18.4
41
9M18
USSR/Russia
POM-2 submunitions
9M28F
USSR/Russia
Fragmentation-HE
1,500
0.93
15,000
9.3
2.27
7 ft 5 in
56.5
125
21.0
46.3
9M28K
USSR/Russia
Anti-tank mines
13,400
8.3
3.04
10 ft 0 in
57.7
127
22.8
50
9M43
USSR/Russia
Smoke
20,000
12
2.95
9 ft 8 in
66
146
20.2
45
9M217
USSR/Russia
Anti-tank submunitions
30,000
19
3.04
10 ft 0 in
70
150
25
55
9M218
USSR/Russia
HEAT submunitions
30,000
19
3.04
10 ft 0 in
70
150
25
55
9M519
USSR/Russia
RF jammer
18,500
11.5
3.04
10 ft 0 in
66
146
18.4
41
9M521
USSR/Russia
Fragmentation-HE
40,000
25
2.87
9 ft 5 in
66
146
21
46
9M522
USSR/Russia
Fragmentation-HE
37,500
23.3
3.04
10 ft 0 in
70
150
25
55
PRC-60
USSR/Russia
Underwater charge (for BM-21PD)
300
0.19
5,000
3.1
2.75
9 ft 0 in
75.3
166
20
44
Type 90A
China
Fragmentation-HE
12,700
7.9
32,700
20.3
2.75
9 ft 0 in
18.3
40
M21-OF-FP
Romania
Fragmentation-HE
5,000–6,000
3.1–3.7
20,400
12.7
2.87
9 ft 5 in
65.4
144
6.35
14.0
M21-OF-S
Romania
Fragmentation-HE
1,000
0.62
12,700
7.9
1.927
6 ft 3.9 in
46.6
103
6.35
14.0
Edepro G2000/52
Serbia
Fragmentation-HE
40,200
25.0
2.862
9 ft 4.7 in
64.4
142
19.0
41.9
Sakr-45A
Egypt
AT / AP submunitions
42,000
26
3.31
10 ft 10 in
67.5
149
24.5
54
Sakr-45B
Egypt
Fragmentation-HE
45,000
28
2.9
9 ft 6 in
63.5
140
20.5
45
9M22S
USSR/Russia
Incendiary
1,500
0.93
19,890
12.36
2.97
9 ft 9 in
66
146
17.8
39
9M28S
USSR/Russia
Incendiary
1,650
1.03
15,070
9.36
2.318
7 ft 7.3 in
53
117
17.8
39

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