Munitions

122 mm 9M521 Grad rocket

Also known as
  • 9M521
  • 122 mm 9M521
  • 9M521 Grad rocket
  • Shrapnel-flag shell 9M521

The 122 mm 9M521 Grad rocket is a Soviet-origin extended-range high-explosive fragmentation rocket for Grad-family launchers. Missilery lists a 66 kg projectile, 21 kg warhead, 2,840 mm length, and up to 40 km range, while CAT-UXO describes it as a Russian 122 mm Grad rocket with an enhanced HE-frag warhead.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Caliber
122 mm
Projectile mass
66 kg
Warhead mass
21 kg
Length
2,840 mm
Range
Up to 40 km
Fragments
1,000 pre-fragmented and 2,440 semi-ready fragments
Warhead
Enhanced HE-frag warhead
Launch Platforms

CAT-UXO and Missilery place the 9M521 in the Grad launcher family.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
BM-21 Grad, 122 mm multiple rocket launcher, ArtilleryBM-21 Grad122 mm multiple rocket launcher

CAT-UXO identifies the 9M521 as a Grad rocket, linking it to the BM-21 family.

Sources: CAT-UXO 122mm 9M521 Grad rocket

Related Weapon Systems
5-inch rockets, Unguided 5-inch rocket family, MunitionsMunitions5-inch rocketsUnguided 5-inch rocket familyThe 5-inch rockets family covers U.S. air-to-surface rockets from the World War II HVAR, also called Holy Moses, through the later Zuni 5-inch FFAR. Smithsonian sources describe the HVAR as an effective Navy weapon that remained operational until 1955, while the Zuni entered service around 1958 with folding fins and continued in use into the 1980s. AV-8B inventory documentation still lists 5-inch rockets among the Harrier's air-to-ground stores.

Sources