The 9M528 is a Russian 300 mm high-explosive fragmentation artillery rocket for the 9K58/BM-30 Smerch family. It is the unitary blast-fragmentation option in the Smerch ammunition set, carrying a 243 kg warhead with 95 kg of explosive and 800 preformed fragments to a reported 90 km maximum range. Human Rights Watch linked the designation to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh fighting after Azerbaijan's mine-action agency identified a 9M528 rocket at Ayrija in Goranboy district.
Human Rights Watch reported that Azerbaijan's mine-action agency identified a 9M528 Smerch rocket in the November 7, 2020 attack on Ayrija in Goranboy district, an attack HRW attributed to Armenian or Nagorno-Karabakh forces.
The 9M528 is the unitary high-explosive fragmentation round in the 300 mm Smerch set, rather than a cargo rocket carrying separate submunitions. Its long range places it in the deep-fire artillery role, while the documented 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh evidence ties the exact designation to an attack site rather than only to the parent launcher.
| Feature | Cataloged detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Warhead | 243 kg high-explosive fragmentation payload with 95 kg explosive weight | Gives the round a blast-fragmentation effect against exposed personnel, vehicles, and structures. |
| Fragmentation | 800 preformed fragments | Distinguishes the 9M528 from Smerch cargo rockets that disperse submunitions. |
| Documented conflict evidence | ANAMA identification cited by Human Rights Watch after the November 7, 2020 Ayrija attack | Supports treating this munition as directly documented in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, not only as compatible Smerch ammunition. |
The 9M528 sits in the 300 mm Smerch ammunition family alongside other warhead configurations and later extended-range rockets.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Thermobaric 300 mm Smerch rocket | Rosoboronexport lists the 9M529 as a 300 mm thermobaric rocket for the Smerch MLRS family, separating it from the 9M528 high-explosive fragmentation role. |
 | Extended-range high-explosive Smerch rocket | Rostec identifies 9M542 as extended-range ammunition used in Smerch multiple rocket launchers produced by Splav. Sources: Rostec SITDEF-2013 Splav ammunition |
The 9M528 is a 300 mm Smerch-family rocket fired from the BM-30 / 9K58 launcher.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 300 mm multiple launch rocket system | Rosoboronexport lists the 9M528 among 300 mm ammunition for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family. |
Missilery identifies 2004 as the year state tests were completed for the 9M528 rocket.
Sources: Missilery 9M528 rocket
Human Rights Watch reported that ANAMA identified a 9M528 Smerch rocket in the attack on Ayrija in Azerbaijan's Goranboy district.
Sources: Human Rights Watch Ayrija 9M528 Smerch strike
