Munitions

3VOF54 / 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation round

Also known as
  • 3OF49
  • 3ОФ49
  • 3VOF54
  • 3ВОФ54
  • 3VOF54-1
  • 3ВОФ54-1
  • 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation projectile
  • 3OF49 HE-fragmentation round

The 3OF49 is the HE-fragmentation projectile used in Soviet and Russian Nona-family 120 mm semi-fixed ammunition. METIS distinguishes the projectile from complete rounds: 3VOF54 combines 3OF49 with the 3V35 impact fuze, while 3VOF54-1 uses the AR-5 radio/proximity fuze. Belspetsvneshtechnika lists both fuze configurations for the 2S9 Nona-S, and VPK attributes Nona ammunition development to Basalt.

3VOF54 / 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation round, 120 mm rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round and projectile family, Munitions
Image source: 120 mm 3OF49 and 3OF36 high explosive rounds.JPG
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union / Russia
Built by
Bazalt
Type
120 mm rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round and projectile family
Service note
Cold War-era 120 mm gun-mortar ammunition
Designer
GNPP Basalt
Designed
1969-1981
Produced
Soviet-era production; later Russian manufacture documented in munition references

Specifications

Caliber
120 mm
Ammunition class
Rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round using the 3OF49 projectile
Projectile
3OF49 / 3ОФ49 nose-fuzed, spin-stabilized HE-fragmentation projectile
Complete round designations
3VOF54 with 3V35 impact fuze; 3VOF54-1 with AR-5 radio/proximity fuze
Fuzes
3V35 impact/contact fuze or AR-5 radio/proximity fuze
Maximum range
More than 8.8 km from the 2S9 Nona-S
Muzzle velocity
367 m/s from the 2S9 Nona-S
Projectile mass
17.2 kg for the HE-fragmentation projectile in Belspetsvneshtechnika 2S9 data
Projectile design
Ready-made grooves on the driving band for rifled Nona-family gun-mortars
Fragmentation effect
Army Guide describes more than 3,500 fragments from the main HE-fragmentation round
Firing weapon
2S9 Nona-S 120 mm self-propelled mortar with 2A51 rifled gun-mortar
Variants

The record separates the 3OF49 projectile designation from the complete semi-fixed rounds that use it.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
3VOF54Impact-fuzed semi-fixed HE-fragmentation round

METIS describes 3VOF54 as a 120 mm rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round built around the 3OF49 projectile and 3V35 point-detonating/delay fuze.

Sources: METIS 3VOF54, 2S9 Nona-S ammunition list

3VOF54-1Radio/proximity-fuzed semi-fixed HE-fragmentation round

METIS describes 3VOF54-1 as the related 120 mm semi-fixed round using the 3OF49 projectile with the AR-5 radio/proximity fuze.

Sources: METIS 3VOF54-1, 2S9 Nona-S ammunition list

Firing Weapons

Belspetsvneshtechnika identifies 3OF49 fuze configurations among the 2S9 Nona-S ammunition types.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
2S9 Nona, Air-droppable 120 mm self-propelled mortar, Artillery2S9 Nona120 mm self-propelled mortar

The 2S9 Nona-S is equipped with the 120 mm 2A51 rifled gun-mortar, and Belspetsvneshtechnika lists HE-fragmentation 3OF49 with 3V35 impact fuze and 3OF49 with AR-5 radio fuze among its ammunition.

Sources: 2S9 Nona-S ammunition list, 2S9 Nona-S ammunition list (RU)

Nona-family designation caution

Broader Nona-family compatibility is documented, but linked firing-weapon rows should be added only where a source identifies the exact 3OF49, 3VOF54, or 3VOF54-1 ammunition for that platform.

Sources: 2S9 Nona-S Army Guide

Designation Structure

The public designations are easy to conflate: 3OF49 names the HE-fragmentation projectile, while 3VOF54 and 3VOF54-1 name complete semi-fixed rounds that use that projectile with different fuzes.

DesignationDenotesSource-backed distinction
3OF49 / 3ОФ49ProjectileNose-fuzed, spin-stabilized 120 mm HE-fragmentation projectile developed for Nona-family rifled gun-mortar ammunition.
3VOF54 / 3ВОФ54Complete roundImpact-fuzed semi-fixed round using the 3OF49 projectile and 3V35 point-detonating/delay fuze.
3VOF54-1 / 3ВОФ54-1Complete roundRadio/proximity-fuzed semi-fixed round using the same 3OF49 projectile with the AR-5 fuze.
Sources: METIS 3OF49; METIS 3VOF54; METIS 3VOF54-1; 2S9 Nona-S ammunition list.
Timeline

3VOF54 / 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation round Key Events

  1. Nona ammunition development assigned

    VPK describes the Nona program shifting toward a multifunctional self-propelled artillery system in 1969 and credits GNPP Basalt with ammunition development for the vehicle.

    Sources: VPK 2S9 Nona-S article

  2. 2S9 Nona-S enters service

    VPK reports that the 2S9 was accepted for service on July 1, 1980; later ammunition references list 3OF49 among its documented HE-fragmentation rounds.

    Sources: VPK 2S9 Nona-S article, 2S9 Nona-S ammunition list

  3. 3OF49 projectile adopted

    METIS describes the Soviet-era 3OF49 projectile as adopted in 1981 and manufactured in the Soviet Union and Russian Federation.

    Sources: METIS 3OF49

Media

3VOF54 / 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation round Images

3VOF54 / 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation round, 120 mm rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round and projectile family, Munitions - view 1
Source: 2S9 Nona in Saint-Petersburg.jpg
3VOF54 / 3OF49 high-explosive fragmentation round, 120 mm rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round and projectile family, Munitions - view 2
Source: Soviet 2S9 Nona.jpg
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Sources

METIS 3OF49Publisher: Fenix Insight | Note: Supports 3OF49 as a Soviet-era Russian/Soviet 120 mm nose-fuzed, spin-stabilized HE-fragmentation projectile and supports Basalt development/manufacture context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01METIS 3VOF54Publisher: Fenix Insight | Note: Supports 3VOF54 as the impact-fuzed 120 mm rifled gun-mortar HE-fragmentation semi-fixed round comprising the 3OF49 projectile and 3V35 fuze. | Accessed: 2026-07-01METIS 3VOF54-1Publisher: Fenix Insight | Note: Supports 3VOF54-1 as the related radio/proximity-fuzed 120 mm semi-fixed round comprising the 3OF49 projectile and AR-5 fuze. | Accessed: 2026-07-012S9 Nona-S Army GuidePublisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports Nona-family ammunition construction details, ready-made grooves on the projectile driving band, round-coupling/loading context, and fragmentation-effect data for the main HE-fragmentation round. | Accessed: 2026-07-012S9 Nona-S ammunition listPublisher: Belspetsvneshtechnika | Note: Supports 3OF49 ammunition fit, listed fuze options, round mass, caliber, muzzle velocity, and range context for the 2S9 Nona. | Accessed: 2026-07-012S9 Nona-S ammunition list (RU)Publisher: Belspetsvneshtechnika | Note: Supports the Russian-language designation 3ОФ49 and the original-language 2S9 ammunition listing for the 3V35 and AR-5 fuze options. | Accessed: 2026-07-01VPK 2S9 Nona-S articlePublisher: VPK.name | Note: Supports the 2S9 Nona ammunition list, including 3OF49 shells with contact or radio fuzes, and the Basalt ammunition development context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01120 mm 3OF49 and 3OF36 high explosive rounds.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a photograph showing 3OF49 ammunition on display with 3OF36 rounds. | Accessed: 2026-07-012S9 Nona in Saint-Petersburg.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain photograph of the 2S9 Nona firing platform used as gallery context for the round. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Soviet 2S9 Nona.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a U.S. military public-domain archival photograph of a Soviet 2S9 Nona firing platform associated with this ammunition family. | Accessed: 2026-07-01