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 BM-21 Grad Multiple Rocket Launcher uses Kamas-53506×6 military truck, 7.35 meters long, 2.69 meters wide, 2.68 meters high, full combat weight 13 tons, normal load 8.4 tons, solid axles, plate springs, rear wheels mounted on the balanced chassis. The power system is GIL-375YA, and V8 gasoline engine is 180 horsepower. Maximum speed is 76 kilometers per hour, and route is 405 km.
The main installation is 122 mm 36 tube rocket, which can be loaded with 122 mm 9M22 damage blasting. Rockets, “Hail” multiple rocket systems can also use 9M23 demolition – chemical bombs, 9M22S ignition rockets, 9M42 lighting rockets and 9M43 smoke rockets, flares, mine-laying bombs, radio jamming bombs and other bombs.
Origin |
Ammunition type |
Minimum range |
Maximum range |
Length |
Weight |
Warhead weight |
Effective damage radius |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 52,000 | 32 | 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 | |
Also Incendiary, Chemical, Illumination, Antipersonnel mines.
Representative Specifications (indicative)
Parameter |
Value |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caliber | 122 mm | Standard Grad rockets |
| Launcher tubes | 40 tubes per vehicle | Fixed tube array on rotating launcher |
| Rocket types | HE, fragmentation, smoke, illumination, training | ER/precision kits available where export permitted |
| Rocket warhead mass | 18–25 kg | Varies by warhead type |
| Rocket range | 20–40 km (standard rockets) | Extended-range variants can reach ~50 km |
| Launcher traverse | 0–90° (azimuth) | Exact traverse depends on chassis and mount |
| Launcher elevation | 0–60° | Configurable for firing arcs |
| Vehicle chassis | 6×6 truck (typical) | Variants may use upgraded or armored trucks |
| Crew | 3–5 | Driver, commander, reload/crew chief |
| Reload method | Palletized rockets; optional semi-automatic loaders | Fast reload for repeated firing |
| Rate of fire | Full salvo in ~20–40 seconds | Salvo timing configurable |
| Electrical interface | 24 V DC typical | Power for fire-control and launcher mechanisms |
| System weight (loaded) | 13–20 tonnes (platform-dependent) | Includes launcher, vehicle, ammunition load |
| Environmental rating | Field-grade, all-weather | MIL-grade ruggedization for transport/storage |
Key Features
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Vehicle-mounted MRL with high-volume salvo capability.
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40-tube launcher for rapid saturation of target areas.
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Compatible with standard 122 mm rockets and extended-range/precision variants where authorized.
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Simple reload system with palletized rockets or modular pods.
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Digital or manual fire-control interface, with optional C2/datalink integration.
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Mobile shoot-and-scoot capability for survivability.
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Modular design for logistics and maintenance simplicity.
