The BM-21 "Grad" (Russian: БМ-21 "Град", lit.'hailstorm') is a self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union.[9] The system and the M-21OF rocket[10] were first developed in the early 1960s, and saw their first combat use in March 1969 during the Sino-Soviet border conflict.[11]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 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 just the launch vehicle, 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 122mm MLRS systems are made by different countries based on the BM-21 Grad.
Description
The M-21 field rocket system with a BM-21 launch vehicle (122mm multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system) entered service with the Soviet Army in 1963 to replace the aging 140mm BM-14 system. The launch vehicle consists of a Ural-375D 6x6 truck chassis fitted with a bank of 40 launch tubes arranged in a rectangular shape that can be turned away from the unprotected cab.
The vehicle is powered by a water-cooled V8 180hp gasoline engine, has a maximum road speed of 75km/h (47mph), a road range of up to 750 kilometers (470mi), and can cross fords up to 1.5m (4ft 11in) deep. The original vehicle together with supporting equipment (including the resupply truck 9T254 with 60 rockets) is referred to by the GRAU index "9K51". The launcher itself has the industrial index of "2B5". In 1976, the BM-21 was mounted on the newer Ural-4320 6x6 army truck.
The three-member crew can emplace the system and have it ready to fire in three minutes. The crew can fire the rockets from the cab or from a trigger at the end of a 64-meter (210ft) cable. All 40 rockets can be away in as little as 20 seconds, and can be fired individually or in small groups in several-second intervals. A PG-1M panoramic telescope with a K-1 collimator can be used for sighting.
Each 2,870-millimeter (9ft 5in) rocket is slowly spun by rifling in its tube as it exits that, along with its primary fin stabilization, keeps it on course. Rockets armed with high explosive-fragmentation, incendiary, or chemical warheads can be fired 20 kilometers (12mi). Newer high explosive and cargo rockets (used to deliver anti-personnel or antitank mines) have a range of 30 kilometers (19mi) and more. Warheads weigh around 20 kilograms (44lb), depending on the type.
The number of rockets that each vehicle is able to quickly bring to bear on an enemy target makes it effective, especially at shorter ranges. One battalion of eighteen launchers is able to deliver 720 rockets in a single volley. The system has lower precision than gun artillery and cannot be used in situations that call for pinpoint accuracy. It relies on a large number of shells impacting over an area for a certain hit rate on specific targets. Because of the short warning time for the impact of the whole volley, the BM-21 is still considered an effective weapon.
Their use, in conjunction with the M-46, during Operation Savannah halted the advance of South African troops in 1975. The Valkiri was brought into service in 1977 to counter the Grad.
Variants
A BM-21 launch vehicle.The 9P138 launch vehicle of the Grad-1 multiple rocket launcher system.A BM-21V VDV variant.
Soviet Union/Russia
BM-21: Original version known as the BM-21 launch vehicle. The launcher unit was mounted on a modified Ural-375D truck chassis.
BM-21-1: Launch vehicles are mounted on a family of Ural-4320 truck chassis.
2B17 or also BM-21-1: This upgrade was presented for the first time in 2003 and was developed by Motovilikha Plants from Perm. The system is fitted with a satellite navigation system NAP SNS, automated fire control system ASUNO, APP laying system and can fire a new generation of rockets with a range of 40km (25mi). The truck is the Ural-43201.
9P138 "Grad-1": lighter 36-round version, mounted on a 6x6 ZIL-131 chassis. The vehicle with supporting equipment (rockets, transporter 9T450 and resupply truck 9F380) is referred to as complex 9K55. The 9P138 can only use "short-range" rockets with a range of 15km (9.3mi). It used to be known in the West as BM-21b or M1976.
BM-21V "Grad-V" (Vozdushnodesantniy – 'airborne') (NATO designation M1975): Developed for Soviet Airborne Forces in 1969. A GAZ-66B 4x4 truck chassis is fitted with a 12-round 122mm rocket launcher. The vehicle is sturdy enough to be airdropped. Parts of the vehicle such as the canvas cab roof can be taken off or folded down to reduce its size during transit. Like the BM-21, the BM-21V has stabilizing jacks on the rear of the vehicle for support when firing. The launch vehicle has the industrial index of 9P125.
9А51 "Prima": 50-round launcher on a Ural-4320 5t chassis. The vehicle together with fire control equipment, the ammunition transporter TZM 9T232M and the new rocket 9M53F is referred to as complex 9K59. Apparently only a small number was produced.
A Grad-P single tube launcher system
"Grad-P Light portable rocket system": The complete system comprises a 9P132 single-round man-portable launcher (it can be reloaded and used again), a 9M22M 122mm high-explosive fragmentation rocket and a fire control panel. The system was developed in the middle of the 1960s for Soviet special units and was used by Vietnamese forces at war with the US, under the designation DKZ-B.[12] It was not accepted for regular service with the Russian Army, but it was and is still popular with paramilitary and guerrilla forces. This version was occasionally employed by both sides in the Donbas War (2014–2022).[13][14]
LRSV-122 M-96 "Tajfun" (samovozni višecijevni lanser raketa): Modified version of M-77 Oganj with 128mm barrels replaced with 122mm barrels due to lack of missiles in 128mm caliber, in 4 rows of 8 launch tubes for use with Grad calibre rockets placed on unarmoured Tatra T813 truck instead of FAP trucks that were damaged beyond repair. About four such conversions were done on Tatra chassis. Like the M-77 Oganj, the launcher and reloading pack are covered by a collapsible awning for protection and camouflage when travelling. Combat weight: 23.5 t. Only a very small number was built.
A LRSV-122 M-96 "Tajfun
LRSV-122 M-92 "Vulkan" (samovozni višecijevni lanser raketa): Modified version of M-77 Oganj with 128mm barrels replaced with 122mm barrels due to lack of missiles in 128mm caliber, in 4 rows of 8 launch tubes for use with Grad caliber.[16]
Czechoslovakia
A RM-70 launch vehicle, a Czechoslovak variant with the BM-21 launch vehicle launcher unit.
RM-70 (122 mm RAKETOMET vz. 70): In 1972, the Czechoslovak Army introduced its own version of the BM-21 launch vehicle, designated the RM-70. The launcher unit comprises a bank of 40 launch tubes arranged in 4 rows of 10 and mounted on an 8x8 10-ton modified Tatra 813 truck. Unlike the BM-21, the RM-70 has an armoured cab and enough room behind it to allow for the storage of a further 40 rockets. These rockets can be automatically reloaded into the launcher at the same time.
RM-70/85: Modification of RM-70 launch vehicle on unarmored Tatra 815 truck.
Czech Republic
RM 70 Vampire: RM 70 modern version on a Tatra 817 8x8 chassis with a digital fire control system, introduced in 2015.
BM-21 MT STRIGA: BM-21 launch vehicle on a Tatra 817 4x4 chassis with a digital fire control system, without a spare rack for immediate reload, introduced in 2022.
Egypt
The Egyptians domestically manufacture the rockets Sakr-18 and Sakr-36, with a respective range of 18km (11mi) and 36km (22mi), and the latest Sakr-45 with a superior range of 45km (28mi). Rather than a standard HE-Frag round, the Egyptian military prefers a 23-kilogram (51lb) cluster munition, which can be extremely effective against lightly armored equipment and troop concentrations. Both rockets, as well as the original Soviet models of course, are fired by locally manufactured rocket launchers like the RL-21 (copy of BM-11) and RC-21 (copy of BM-21, similar to the Hadid HM20). The Helwan Machine Tools Company also produces portable systems with one, three, four and eight launch tubes. Also, the RAAD 200 is a BM-21 on a new tracked vehicle.
Since 2006, Hamas has fired 122mm Grad rockets, copies made in Iran, and Eastern-bloc versions modified to expand their range, into Israel.[17] The rockets were believed to be brought into the Gaza Strip via tunnels from Egypt.[17] Some of the rockets were of a Chinese Grad variant.[18] Hamas sources said they were pleased by the performance of the Chinese variants of the BM-21 Grad rocket, which demonstrated a far greater range and blast impact than Palestinian-made rockets, as well as Russian-origin Grads or Katyushas.[18][19]
Hamas have used small man-portable single-tube launchers for rockets in attacks against Israel, designated 122mm 9P132/BM-21-P.[20] The 122mm Grad rockets used in Gaza have a range of about 40km (25mi), and can reach the Israeli towns of Ashdod, Beer-Sheva, Ofakim, Gedera, Kiryat Gat, Ashqelon, Sderot, Rehovot, Kiryat Malachi and Gan Yavne. They also published a clip claiming device mounted used as a multi-barrel rocket launcher on vehicle used for first time in Gaza.[21] On 7 April 2011, the Iron Dome system successfully intercepted a Grad rocket launched from Gaza for the first time. The rockets were launched without their dedicated platforms and by untrained operators which causes very low accuracy. Over 50% of the rockets miss entire cities and over 10% end up hitting the sea.[22]
Georgia
A Georgian RS-122, a heavily upgraded and automated version of the Soviet BM-21 based on the Ukrainian KrAZ-63221 chassis
RS-122 Magaria: In March 2012, the Republic of Georgia unveiled its own heavily modified self-propelled version of the BM-21 Grad. There are innovative improvements similar to that of its Polish counterpart. The crew cabin is armoured and well-protected in accordance with STANAG level 2 or higher. The 40-tube launcher is fitted with a pinpoint targeting system and has a maximum firing distance of 45km depending on ammunition, guaranteeing much more precision at greater distances. There is enough room for an additional 40-tube pack. The launcher can be deployed and activated directly from inside the crew cab, greatly decreasing time between salvos. However, the traditional external setup is also available. An entire barrage can be fired in less than 20 seconds. The general purpose platform can also be used for more sophisticated rocket systems.[23][24]
Iran
D.I.O. from Iran produces copies of the BM-11 and BM-21 systems that can fire the original Soviet rockets as well as the locally developed "Arash" with a range of 20.5km (12.7mi). There is also a rocket with a range of 75km (47mi).
Heidar-44: A 40-tube version of the BM-21 based on a KrAZ truck chassis.
A WR-40 Langusta, a deeply modernized and automated version, of the Soviet BM-21 based on the Jelcz P662D.35 6x6 truck, displayed at the MSPO 2007.
WR-40 "Langusta" (eng.spiny lobster) (wyrzutnia rakietowa means rocket launcher): This is a modern Polish version with a new fire control system (with ballistic computer BFC201 and navigation system Sigma 30) and a modified launcher based on the Jelcz P662D.35G-27 6×6 truck, produced by Jelcz Komponenty.[30] The first vehicle entered service on 20 March 2007. Probably about half of all 227 Polish BM-21 launchers will be converted into WR-40 launchers. New, modern types of munition were also developed for the launcher: the range is approximately 42km (26mi) for fragmentation-HE rockets "Feniks-Z" and 32km (20mi) for cargo rockets. The Jelcz P662.D.35 truck with lightly armoured cab is also believed to be the base of a Polish multiple rocket launcher complex, which will possibly be developed in the future.
Romania
APR-21 (aruncător de proiectile reactive – rocket launcher): Romanian 21-round launcher (3 rows of 7) mounted on a Bucegi SR-114 4x4 chassis. No longer used by the Romanian Army but some vehicles have been exported to Nigeria and Croatia. Morocco has the launch pack mounted on a KaiserM35 truck.
APR-40: Initially this designator was used for the original BM-21 "Grad" in Romanian service, but Aerostar SA has developed an improved model, based on a DAC-665T 6x6 truck. A slightly improved model, called APRA-40 or 40 APRA 122 FMC is based on the DAC 15.215 DFAEG truck. Each launcher is normally accompanied by a resupply truck MITC with a 6t crane and a trailer RM13. The system is also used by Botswana, Bosnia, Cameroon, Croatia, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria and Ukraine.[31]
The 9M22S munition (see below) was developed by NPO Splav during the Soviet era.[38][39] Instead of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, the 9M22S rocket carries a warhead containing 180 separate 9N510 incendiary submunitions.[40] Designed to ignite vegetation, storage facilities, or fuel, these incendiary elements consist of hexagonal prisms made from a magnesium alloy known to the Russian GOST as ML-5,[41][42] filled with a thermite mixture.[43] Each element has a nominal length of 40mm and a width of 25mm and a burning time of at least 2 minutes. The effect of these incendiary, as well as conventional lighting munitions (especially at night), outwardly resembles the use of phosphorus munitions.[38]
As of 2024, India's DRDO is developing ERR122 rockets for the Indian Army's BM-21 launchers, modified as Agnibaan with Ashok Leyland chassis,[44][45]. The rocket was first tested on 25 June 2021.[46][47] Further, IIT Madras is undertaking the development of a ramjet propulsion technology which is expected to enhance the range to 80 kilometers (50mi).[48]