2A28 Grom

Also known as

Grom
73 mm Grom

The 2A28 Grom is a Soviet 73 mm low-pressure smoothbore cannon designed by KBP in Tula and used as the main gun on BMP-1, BMD-1, and related light armored vehicles. Its compact semi-automatic loading system, short recoil, and PG-15V/OG-15V ammunition gave early Soviet infantry fighting vehicles a short-range direct-fire weapon, while the Russia-Ukraine War has also produced improvised dismounted 2A28 support-gun adaptations.

2A28 Grom, 73 mm low-pressure smoothbore cannon, Artillery

Image source: Panzermuseum Munster 2010 0660.JPG - Wikimedia Commons

Role in Conflicts

Side: EgyptSyria

Egyptian and Syrian BMP-1 forces used the 2A28 Grom-equipped vehicle in the 1973 Yom Kippur War; postwar assessments noted the Grom projectile's range limitations alongside the vehicle's mobility and protection problems.

Side: Soviet Union and Afghan government forces

Soviet BMP-1 units fielded the 73 mm Grom in Afghanistan, where the gun and its ammunition were criticized for limited elevation, range, and fragmentation effect in mountainous and built-up terrain.

Side: Iraq

Iraqi BMP-1s armed with the 73 mm 2A28 Grom fought coalition armor; one account of the Battle of 73 Easting records an Iraqi BMP-1 knocking out a U.S. Bradley with 73 mm gunfire.

Role details

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Soviet Union
Built by: KBP
Type: 73 mm low-pressure smoothbore cannon
Service note: Early 1960s design; mounted on BMP-1 and BMD-1 infantry fighting vehicles
Designed: Early 1960s
Produced: 1966-present

Specifications

Caliber: 73 mm
Type: Low-pressure smoothbore cannon
Mass: 115 kg
Rate of fire: 6-8 rounds per minute
Aimed distance: 1,300 m
Range against 2 m target: 765 m
Loading mode: Semi-automatic
Loading mechanism: Electro-mechanical
Recoil length: Up to 150 mm
Vehicle ammunition load: 40 rounds on BMP-1, BMP-1P, and BMD-1-family vehicle entries
Ammunition: PG-15V HEAT, OG-15V HE, TB-15V thermobaric
Projectile roles: PG-15V anti-armor and OG-15V high-explosive rounds, with later producer catalogs also listing TB-15V thermobaric ammunition

Mounted Platforms

The 2A28 Grom is documented as the main armament of the BMP-1 family and the BMD-1 airborne infantry fighting vehicle.

Firing weapon	Weapon type	Firing evidence
BMP-1	Infantry fighting vehicle	Weaponsystems.net lists the BMP-1's main armament as the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure cannon with 40 rounds in the turret. Sources: BMP-1 \| Weaponsystems.net
BMD-1	Airborne infantry fighting vehicle	Weaponsystems.net identifies the BMD-1's main armament as the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure cannon with 40 rounds. Sources: BMD-1
BRM-1K	Tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle	Weaponsystems.net states that the BRM-1K's larger two-person turret carries the same 73 mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure cannon as the BMP-1, with a reduced 20-round ammunition load. Sources: BRM-1K Korshun

Firing weapon

Weapon type

Firing evidence

BMP-1

Infantry fighting vehicle

Weaponsystems.net lists the BMP-1's main armament as the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure cannon with 40 rounds in the turret.

Sources: BMP-1 | Weaponsystems.net

BMD-1

Airborne infantry fighting vehicle

Weaponsystems.net identifies the BMD-1's main armament as the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure cannon with 40 rounds.

Sources: BMD-1

BRM-1K

Tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle

Weaponsystems.net states that the BRM-1K's larger two-person turret carries the same 73 mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure cannon as the BMP-1, with a reduced 20-round ammunition load.

Sources: BRM-1K Korshun

Gun And Ammunition Context

The Grom is best read as both a vehicle armament and a compact direct-fire gun. Its low-pressure design limits range and accuracy compared with larger tank guns, but the small weapon let Soviet light armored vehicles combine troop carriage, an anti-armor projectile, high-explosive ammunition, and a coaxial weapon in a compact turret.

Vehicle fit

BMP-1 and BMD-1 references list the 2A28 as the 73 mm low-pressure main gun, normally with 40 rounds in those vehicles; BRM-1K retained the gun with a 20-round load.

Ammunition families

STV GROUP lists PG-15V HEAT, OG-15V HE, and TB-15V thermobaric rounds for cannon 2A28, separating anti-armor, high-explosive, and thermobaric roles.

Improvised use

Ukraine-war reporting describes Russian units removing 2A28 guns from BMP-1 hulls and mounting them on ad hoc carriages, but also notes uncertainty about combat effectiveness.

Timeline

2A28 Grom Key Events

Jan 1, 1966
BMP-1 production armament
The 2A28 Grom entered the BMP-1 armament package as Soviet BMP-1 production began, giving the vehicle a 73 mm low-pressure turret gun with 40 rounds.
Sources: 2A28 Grom (Wikipedia), BMP-1 | Weaponsystems.net
Jan 1, 1968
BMD-1 airborne vehicle integration
The BMD-1 airborne fighting vehicle reused the BMP-1-style turret and mounted the same 73 mm 2A28 low-pressure cannon.
Sources: BMD-1
Jan 1, 1973
BRM-1K reconnaissance fit
The BRM-1K reconnaissance vehicle entered service with a larger turret that retained the 73 mm 2A28 Grom, but with a reduced 20-round load and no anti-tank missile rail.
Sources: BRM-1K Korshun
Jan 1, 1974
BMP-1P keeps the Grom
The U.S. Army Worldwide Equipment Guide describes the BMP-1P as an improved BMP-1 variant that retained the 73 mm 2A28/Grom armament while changing the missile fit.
Sources: Worldwide Equipment Guide Volume 1: Ground Systems (2015)
Jan 1, 1990
BMP-1A1 Ost autoloader removal
The Worldwide Equipment Guide notes that Germany's BMP-1A1 Ost conversion removed the automatic loader, illustrating how some operators modified the Grom loading arrangement.
Sources: Worldwide Equipment Guide Volume 1: Ground Systems (2015)
Jul 28, 2024
Improvised carriage reports in Ukraine
Defense Express reported footage of Russian forces installing 2A28 Grom guns from BMP-1 vehicles on carriages and test firing at least two improvised guns.
Sources: Defense Express 2A28 Carriage Adaptation