X-Nico

5 unusual facts about BM-21 Grad


Al Quds 3

In July 2006, media reports indicated Hamas had successfully developed an indigenous variant of the Soviet-origin Katyusha rocket (BM-21 Grad) with a range of 24 kilometers.

Battle of Bani Walid

The offensive apparently began in response to a Grad rocket barrage against besieging anti-Gaddafi forces originating from within the city.

BM-21 Grad

Its 40 tubes are mounted on a Shaanxi Automobile Works Yan'an SX2150 six-by-six truck, which unlike the original Russian version, has a cab protected by blast shields.

The Homicho Ammunition Engineering Complex produces the rockets while the Bishoftu Motorization Engineering Complex produces the launching tubes and has converted existing trucks to diesel engine.

Chernokozovo

At the beginning of the Second Chechen War, Chernokozovo defended by Chechen separatist forces and the Russians bombed the village and shelled it with the BM-21 Grad rocket artillery systems.



see also

9A52-4 Tornado

Russian ground forces are expected to receive up to 30 Tornado-G systems in 2012, replacing the BM-21 Grad.The improved Tornado-S is being upgraded with the special GLONASS satellite navigation system used in the Smerch missile system.