{
  "id": "9a53-g-tornado",
  "name": "9A53-G Tornado",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "122mm multiple rocket launcher",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 2012,
  "operators": [
    "RUS"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 2,
  "summary": "The Tornado-G multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is designed and manufactured by SPLAV Scientific Production Enterprise, a company based in Russia. It is an upgraded variant of the BM-21 Grad MLRS. The new rocket system is intended for use by the armed forces of Russia and foreign countries.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "SPLAV Scientific Production Enterprise",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 2,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Chassis",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Ural-4320",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Displacement time",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "3 min",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Emplacement time",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "2 min",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 7.35,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 2.5,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 3.1,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 14,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "YaMZ-238M2",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 240,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 650,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 85,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.75 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Launch tubes",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "40",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, the vehicle is fitted with a modern fire control system.",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Protection from small Arms and Shell Splinters.",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "Tornado-G, 122 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 40,
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Maximum firing range"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "FRAG-HE",
      "role": "122 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Warhead": "18.4 kg (M21OF)"
      },
      "range_km": 20.4
    },
    {
      "name": "FRAG-HE",
      "role": "122 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Warhead": "21 kg"
      },
      "range_km": 15
    },
    {
      "name": "FRAG-HE",
      "role": "122 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Warhead": "18.3 kg"
      },
      "range_km": 32.7
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "BM-21-1",
      "text": "Launch vehicles are mounted on a family of Ural-4320 truck chassis",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "T-122 Kamaz",
      "text": "9A53-G Tornado (2x15 1x40 122mm Upgraded BM-21 Grad Multiple Rocket Launcher Module, based on a Kamaz Truck.",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "9P138 \"Grad-1\":",
      "text": "lighter 36-round version, mounted on a six-by-six ZIL-131 chassis. The vehicle with supporting equipment (rockets, transporter 9T450 and re-supply truck 9F380) is referred to as complex 9K55. The 9P138 can only use \"shor",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BM-21V \"Grad-V\"",
      "text": "Developed for Soviet airborne troops in 1969. A GAZ-66B four-by-four truck chassis is fitted with a 12-round 122 mm rocket launcher. The vehicle is sturdy enough to be air-dropped. Parts of the vehicle such as the canvas",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "9А51 \"Prima\"",
      "text": "50-round launcher on a Ural-4320 5t chassis. The vehicle together with fire control equipment, the ammunition transporter TZM 9T232M and the new rocket 9M53F is referred to as complex",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "\"Grad-P Light portable rocket system\"",
      "text": "the complete system comprises a 9P132 single-round man-portable launcher (it can be reloaded and used again), a 9M22M 122 mm high-explosive fragmentation rocket and a fire control panel. The system was developed in the m",
      "src": [
        "weg-9a53-g-tornado"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "mlrs",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/9a53-g-tornado.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-9a53-g-tornado": {
      "title": "9A53-G Tornado Russian 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/9A53-G_Tornado_Russian_122mm_Multiple_Rocket_Launcher",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}