The 122 mm 9M521 Grad rocket is a Russian extended-range high-explosive fragmentation rocket for Grad-family 122 mm launchers. Rosoboronexport lists it as an unguided round for engaging personnel, equipment, and command posts, while Missilery gives a 66 kg projectile, 21 kg warhead, 2,840 mm length, and up to 40 km range.
The 9M521 sits between the standard 20 km-class M-21OF/9M22U Grad rocket and later or adjacent 122 mm Grad-family HE-fragmentation rockets. Sources describe it as an extended-range single high-explosive fragmentation round, while the 9M522 uses a heavier detachable warhead arrangement.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Standard Grad HE-fragmentation rocket | Missilery describes the M-21OF / 9M22U as a standard Grad rocket with a shorter roughly 20 km maximum range. |
 | Adjacent extended-range HE-fragmentation rocket | European Security & Defence lists the 9M521 and 9M522 together as Tornado-G extended-range 122 mm rockets, and Missilery lists the 9M522 with a 37.5 km maximum range. Sources: European Security & Defence BM-21 and Tornado-G, M-21 Field rocket system - Missilery.info |
CAT-UXO and Missilery place the 9M521 in the Grad launcher family, and European Security & Defence identifies it among the extended-range 122 mm rockets carried by Tornado-G.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 122 mm multiple rocket launcher | CAT-UXO identifies the 9M521 as a Grad rocket, and Missilery places the 9M521 under the M-21/9K51 Grad rocket family. Sources: CAT-UXO 122mm 9M521 Grad rocket, Shrapnel-flag shell 9M521, M-21 Field rocket system - Missilery.info |
 | 122 mm multiple rocket launcher | European Security & Defence describes Tornado-G as armed with extended-range 122 mm rockets including the 9M521. |
The 9M521 is best read as an extended-range HE-fragmentation round inside the broader 122 mm Grad ammunition family rather than as a standalone launcher system.
| Round | Family position | Source-backed distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Grad HE-fragmentation rocket | Missilery describes the M-21OF / 9M22U as a standard Grad rocket with about 20 km maximum range. |
| 9M521 | Extended-range HE-fragmentation rocket | Rosoboronexport and Missilery list the 9M521 with a 21 kg warhead, enhanced fragmentation effect, and up to 40 km range. |
| Adjacent extended-range HE-fragmentation rocket | Missilery lists the 9M522 with a heavier 25 kg detachable warhead and up to 37.5 km range. |
| Modernized 122 mm Grad-family launcher | European Security & Defence identifies Tornado-G as armed with extended-range rockets including the 9M521 and 9M522. |
A Ukrainian technical paper indexed by OUCI describes NPO Splav and associated enterprises developing the 9M521 family during 1997-1998 modernization work.
European Security & Defence described Tornado-G as armed with extended-range 122 mm rockets including the 9M521 and 9M522.
