The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (), commonly referred to by its transliterated Russian acronym GRAU (), is a department of the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is subordinate to the Chief of Armament and Munition of the Russian Armed Forces, a vice-minister of defense. The organization dates back to 1862 when it was established under the name Главное артиллерийское управление (ГАУ – GAU). The "R" from "rockets" was added to the title in 1960. In particular, the GRAU is responsible for assigning GRAU indices to Russian army munitions and

equipment Equipment most commonly refers to a set of tools or other objects commonly used to achieve a particular objective. Different job Work or labor (or labour in British English) is intentional activity people perform to support the needs and ...

. Arsenals of the GRAU, according to Kommersant-Vlast in 2005, include the 60th at Kaluga, the 55th at Rzhev, the 75th at Serpukhov south of Moscow, (all three in the Moscow Military District) and the 80th at Gagarskiy, the 116th at Krasno-Oktyabrskiy and the 5th, all in the Volga–Urals Military District.Kommersant-Vlast, Vys Rossikaya Armiya, 2005 As of December 2021, the Chief of the GRAU is

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

Nikolay Romanovsky.

Current GRAU indices

GRAU indices are of the form '' '', sometimes with a further suffix '' ''. They may be followed by a specially assigned codename. For example "2 S 19 ''Msta-S''", the 2S19 Msta self-propelled howitzer, has the index ''2S19'', without suffix; ''Msta-S'' is the codename.

Misconceptions

Several common misconceptions surround the scope and originating body of these indices. The GRAU designation is not an industrial designation, nor is it assigned by the design bureau. In addition to its GRAU designation, a given piece of equipment could have a design name, an industrial name and a service designation. For example, one of the

surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...

s in the S-25 Berkut air defense system had at least four domestic designations: * design name: La-205 * GRAU index: 5V7 * industry name: Article 205 () * Soviet military designation: V-300 Some Soviet general-purpose bombs bore a designation that looked confusingly similar to GRAU.For example, the FAB-250sch entered service in 1944 with the designation ''7-F-334'', which was not assigned by GRAU.

Designation scheme

The first part of a GRAU index is a number indicating which of the several main categories of equipment a given item belongs to. The second part, a Cyrillic character, indicates the subcategory. The third part, a number, indicates the specific model. The optional suffix can be used to differentiate variants of the same model.

1 (Radio and electronics equipment)

* 1K: '' Buran'' (the first ''Buran''-class orbiter; see also " #11 (Rocketry and associated equipment)") * 1L: 1L14, the IFF detector for the 9K310 ( Igla)

air defense Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...

system * 1S:

Radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, Marine radar, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor v ...

(1S11, target detecting

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, Marine radar, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor v ...

of 1S91 command and control vehicle of 2K12 Kub

system) * 1V: Artillery command vehicles (1V18/19 on BTR-60 chassis, 1V13/16 on MT-LBu chassis) * 1P: Firearms optic (1P87 optic on AK-12, 1P70 optic on SVDK). 1PN designates the firearms optic as a night vision device, e.g.

1PN51 1PN51 ( rus, 1ПН51) is the GRAU index for a Soviet designed passive night scope for a range of Soviet designed small arms and grenade launchers. ''1PN'' is the GRAU index of night vision devices, where PN stands for ''Nochnoy Pritsel'' ( rus, Н� ...

2 (Artillery systems)

* 2A: Towed artillery systems ( 2A65 Msta-B) * 2B: Mortar Systems ( 2B9 Vasilek,

2B14 Podnos The 2B14 Podnos (''2Б14 "Поднос"- Platter'') is a Soviet 82 mm mortar. The 2B14 was designed in early 1980s as a light indirect fire weapon for the use of airborne and other light infantry forces. Despite the intent to field the 2B14 ...

) * 2K: Air Defence Systems (2K11, Krug surface-to-air missile system; 2К12, Kub surface-to-air missile system, 2K22,

Tunguska Tunguska, formerly also written Tungonska, may refer to: * The Tunguska event, a catastrophic explosion over Siberia in 1908. Places * Rivers in Russia: ** Upper Tunguska, an old name of the lower course of the Angara, tributary of the Yenisey ** ...

surface-to-air gun-missile system) * 2S: Self-propelled

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during si ...

systems ( 2S1 Gvozdika, 2S19 Msta-S) * 2U: Training equipment

3 (Army and naval missiles)

* 3M: Various missiles ( 3M80 Moskit, 3M45 Granit)

4 (Naval missiles and army equipment (munitions, reactive armour, etc.))

* 4G: Warheads (4G15, the

high explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An ...

HEAT In thermodynamics, heat is defined as the form of energy crossing the boundary of a thermodynamic system by virtue of a temperature difference across the boundary. A thermodynamic system does not ''contain'' heat. Nevertheless, the term is ...

warhead for the P-15 Termit

anti-ship missile An anti-ship missile (AShM) is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. A goo ...

) * 4K: Naval missiles (4K10, the

submarine-launched ballistic missile A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which carries a nuclear warhead ...

R-27 (RSM-25) for D-5 "Zyb" system; 4K40, P-15 Termit missile) * 4P: Launchers * 4S: Launchers (4S95, the launcher of "Kinzhal/Klinok" ( SA-15 Gauntlet) air defense complex)

5 (Air defense equipment)

* 5Ae:

Computer A computer is a machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations ( computation) automatically. Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as programs. These prog ...

s (5Ae26, a specialized multi-

CPU A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, a ...

computer with a performance of 1.5 MIPS) * 5B:

Surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...

warheads (5B18, the warhead for the S-125's V-601 missile) * 5P: Surface-to-air missile launchers (5P75, the four-missile launcher for the S-125 air defense system) * 5V:

Surface-to-air missiles A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft sys ...

(5V55, SAM for S-300 air defense system) * 5Ya: Surface-to-air missiles (5Ya23, a SAM for the S-75 air defense system) * 5# : * 51T6 (SH-11/ ABM-4 Gorgone), an exoatmospheric

anti-ballistic missile An anti-ballistic missile (ABM) is a surface-to-air missile designed to counter ballistic missiles (missile defense). Ballistic missiles are used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological, or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajec ...

interceptor for the A-135 air defense system : *

53T6 The 53T6 (NATO reporting name: ABM-3 ''Gazelle'', previously SH-08)Gazelle (SH-0 ...

(SH-08/ ABM-3 Gazelle), an endoatmospheric interceptor for A-135 air defense system

6 (Firearms, air defense equipment)

* 6B: Body armor (6B1; 6B13, for mountain troops; 6B23, MOLLE; 6B43, MOLLE for airborne, naval and special troops), helmets
6B6
* 6Ch: Firearm equipment ( 6Ch12, the PBS-1 flash suppressor and silencer; 6Ch63, AK modernize kit; 6Ch64, front grip) * 6E: Firearm equipment (6E7, flashlight) * 6G: Firearms (6G3, the RPG-7 man-portable, rocket-propelled grenade launcher; 6G17, the

VOG-25 The GP-25 ''Kostyor'' ("Bonfire"), GP-30 ''Obuvka'' ("Footwear") and GP-34 are a family of Russian 40 mm under-barrel grenade launchers (''Granatomyot Podstvolnyj'') for the Kalashnikov rifle, AK family of assault rifles. They were first see ...

40 mm grenade cartridge) * 6Kh: Knives and bayonets (6Kh3, a sword-bayonet for the AKM) * 6P: Firearms (6P1, the 7.62 mm AKM, and 6P41/6P41M, PKP) * 6Sh: Firearm equipment (6Sh5, a rifle sling; 6Sh92, tactical vest; 6Sh104, SVD/ VSS vest for sniper and backpack with rain cover and 2 side MOLLE pouches; 6Sh105, normal or digital tactical vest; 6Sh112, MOLLE tactical vest for PKM/ PKP machine-gunner) * 6T: Firearm equipment (6T2, Samozhenkov's carriage for PKS machine gun) * 6Ts: Sights (6Ts1, the PSO-1 sight for the Dragunov sniper rifle) * 6U: Firearm equipment (6U1, personnel carrier vehicle carriage for PKB/PKBM machine gun) * 6V:

Firearm A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes ...

s (6V1, the Dragunov sniper rifle) * 6Yu: Firearm accessories kit (6Yu4, accessories kit for the AKM) * 6Zh: Firearm equipment (6Zh1M, a 100-round belt-box for the

PKM machine gun The PK (russian: Пулемёт Калашникова, transliterated as ''Pulemyot Kalashnikova'', or "Kalashnikov's machine gun"), is a belt-fed general-purpose machine gun, chambered for the 7.62×54mmR rimmed cartridge. Designed in the So ...

) * 6L: Magazine (6L20, bakelite plastic 5.45×39mm magazine for the AK-74)

7 (Firearm munitions)

* 7B: Ammunition (7B33, the 7.62×54mmR armour-piercing/ incendiary round) * 7G: Grenades (7G1, the RKG-3 handheld

grenade) * 7Kh: Training ammunition (7Kh1, the 12.7×108mm blank cartridge) * 7N: Ammunition (7N1, the 7.62×54mmR round for sniper rifles) * 7P: Rocket-propelled grenades (7P1, a 40 mm RPG-7 round) * 7S: Misc. ammunition (7S1, a signal false-fire of orange smoke) * 7T: Ammunition (7T2, the 7.62×54mmR tracer round) * 7U: Ammunition (7U1, the 5.45×39mm low speed ( subsonic) US (Umenshennoy Skorosti; "Reduced Speed") cartridge) * 7Z: Ammunition (7Z1, the 14.5×115mm incendiary round)

=Exceptions

= * 71Kh6: the US-KMO Prognoz-2 early warning system

satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioiso ...

* 73N6 ''Baikal-1'': an automated air defense command and control system * 75E6 ''Parol-3'': the IFF interrogator for the S-75M and S-125 * 76N6: a low-altitude target detector

8 (Army missiles and rocketry)

* 8A:

Ballistic missile A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles stay within t ...

s * 8D:

Rocket engine A rocket engine uses stored rocket propellants as the reaction mass for forming a high-speed propulsive jet of fluid, usually high-temperature gas. Rocket engines are reaction engines, producing thrust by ejecting mass rearward, in accorda ...

s (mostly) * 8F: Warheads * 8K: Missiles ( 8K51, 8K63 Dvina, 8K64, 8K67, 8K71, 8K81, 8K84) * 8P: Expendable launch systems * 8S: Missile propulsion stages

9 (Army missiles, UAVs)

* 9A: Launchers (9A52, the chassis of the Smerch MLRS) * 9F: Training and equipment systems (9F827 of the Smerch system) * 9K: Systems (9К33,

Osa Osa or OSA may refer to: Places * Osa Peninsula, a peninsula in Costa Rica * Osa (canton), a canton in the province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica * Osa Conservation Area, an administrative area in Costa Rica * Osa, India, a village in Allahabad, ...

system; 9К115-2,

Metis-M The 9K115-2 Metis-M (NATO reporting name AT-13 Saxhorn-2) is a Russian portable anti-tank guided missile system. "9K115-2" is the GRAU designation of the missile system. The Metis-M1 is the latest upgraded variant of Metis-M. The system is designe ...

anti-tank missile system; 9K310, the Igla air defense system) * 9M: Missiles ( 9M133 Kornet) and 9M62, T-92 UAV from aerial reconnaissance complex "Tipchak"; * 9P: Launchers (9P140, the chassis of the Uragan MLRS) * 9S: 9S737, Ranzhir mobile command center * 9T: Transporter-loaders and re-supply vehicles (9T234 of the

9K58 Smerch The BM-30 ''Smerch'' ( rus, Смерч, "tornado", "whirlwind"), 9K58 Smerch or 9A52-2 Smerch-M is a heavy self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union. The system is intended to defeat personnel, armo ...

system, 9T244 of the 9K331 Tor system)

10 (Equipment)

* 10P: Sights (10P19, the PGO-7V sight for RPG-7V grenade launcher) * 10R: Radios (10R30 ''Karat-2'', a radio transmitter)

11 (Rocketry and associated equipment)

* 11A: Rocketry (11A51, the Korolev N-1 heavy-lift launcher, 11A511, the Soyuz launcher) * 11B: Nuclear thermal rocket engines ( 11B91 (RD0410); 11B97) * 11D: Rocket engines (11D43, the RD-253 liquid fuel rocket engine (First stage of Proton space launcher)) * 11F:

Satellites A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotop ...

(11F67 ''Molniya-1'', a telecom satellite; 11F35 K1 ''Buran'' (the first ''Buran''-class shuttle; see also " #1 (Radio and electronics equipment)"); 11F654

GLONASS GLONASS (russian: ГЛОНАСС, label=none, ; rus, links=no, Глобальная навигационная спутниковая система, r=Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema, t=Global Navigation Satellite System) is ...

satellites A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotop ...

; 11F94 LK, a lunar lander) * 11G: Equipment (11G12, a refuelling station) * 11K: Rocketry (11K25 '' Energia'', a heavy-lift rocket for the '' Buran''–class shuttle) * 11M: Onboard equipment (11M243,

solar array A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is an electric power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and ...

actuators for the 11F624 ''Yantar-2K'' satellite) * 11P: Ground equipment (11P825, the launch complex for the 11K25) * 11S: Rocket stages (11S59, the 1st and 2nd stages ("unit A") of the Soyuz rocket)

14 (Rocketry and associated equipment)

* 14A: Rockets (14A15, is the " Soyuz-2-1v") * 14D: Rocket engines (14D30, the "Briz" booster's S5.98M liquid fuel engine) * 14F:

(14F10, the IS-MU ''Naryad'' anti-satellite weapon) * 14I: Ground equipment (14I02, the ground equipment for the "Briz" booster's 8P882 system) * 14P: Ground equipment (14P72, the service system for the "Briz" booster) * 14S: Boosters (14S12, the "Briz" booster) * 14T: Ground equipment (14T81, the storage equipment for the "Briz" booster)

15 (Strategic Missile Forces equipment)

* 15A: Intercontinental ballistic missiles (15A14 and 15A18, the R-36M (SS-18 Satan) ICBM; 15A15, the UR-100MR (SS-17 Spanker) ICBM) * 15B: Warheads * 15D: Rocket engines (mostly) * 15F: Warheads * 15N: Command and control vehicles * 15P: Silo-based launchers (mostly) * 15U: ICBM ground equipment * 15Zh: ICBMs and tactical ballistic missiles (15Zh45, the

RT-21M Pioneer The RSD-10 ''Pioneer'' (russian: ракета средней дальности (РСД) «Пионер» tr.: ''raketa sredney dalnosti (RSD) "Pioner"''; en, Medium-Range Missile "Pioneer") was an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a ...

(SS-20 Saber) TBM)

17 (Rocketry and associated equipment)

* 17D: Misc. rocket engines (17D58Ae, the stabilization and orientation engine of the "Briz-M" booster) * 17F:

(17F15 ''Raduga-1'', a telecommunications satellite) * 17K: Space-based systems (17K114, a space-based reconnaissance and targeting system) * 17P: Ground equipment (17P31, the start system for 11K25) * 17S: Rocket stages (17S40, Unit D of the Proton launcher) * 17U: Ground equipment (17U551, the "Briz-M" booster testing system)

Notes

References

*
Dictionary of GRAU designations at

External links

History of the GRAU
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grau Defence agencies of Russia Military of Russia Military of the Soviet Union