The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (), commonly referred to by its transliterated acronym GRAU (), is a department of the

Russian Ministry of Defense The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (; MOD) is the governing body of the Russian Armed Forces. The President of Russia is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Commander-in-Chief of the forces ...

. It is subordinate to the Chief of Armament and Munition of the

Russian Armed Forces The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, commonly referred to as the Russian Armed Forces, are the military of Russia. They are organized into three service branches—the Russian Ground Forces, Ground Forces, Russian Navy, Navy, and Russi ...

, a vice-minister of defense. The organization dates back to 1862 when it was established under the name Main Artillery Directorate (, GAU). The "R" from "rockets" was added to the title from 19 November 1960. The GRAU is responsible for assigning GRAU indices to

Russian army The Russian Ground Forces (), also known as the Russian Army in English, are the Army, land forces of the Russian Armed Forces. The primary responsibilities of the Russian Ground Forces are the protection of the state borders, combat on land, ...

ammunition Ammunition, also known as ammo, is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. The term includes both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines), and the component parts of oth ...

s and

equipment Equipment most commonly refers to a set of tool A tool is an Physical object, object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many Tool use by ...

. As of April 2025, the Chief of the GRAU was Major General Aleksey Volkov.

Arsenals

Arsenals of the GRAU, according to

Kommersant (, , ''The Businessman'' or Commerce Man, often shortened to Ъ) is a nationally distributed daily newspaper published in Russia mostly devoted to politics and business. The TNS Media and NRS Russia certified July 2013 circulation of the daily ...

-Vlast in 2005, included the 53rd at Dzerzhinsk, Nizhniy Novogorod Oblast, the 55th in the

Sklad-40 Sklad-40 (Склад-40) (also ''Arsenal'') - a closed military camp in the western part of the city of Rzhev in the Tver Oblast, on the :ru:Советская сторона (Soviet side). It is a microdistrict of the city of Rzhev. All the ...

microraion at

Rzhev Rzhev ( rus, Ржев, p=ˈrʐɛf) is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Staritsa and from Tver, on the highway and railway connecting Moscow and Riga. It is the uppermost town situated on the Volga River. Population: Hist ...

, the 60th at

Kaluga Kaluga (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Kaluga Oblast, Russia. It stands on the Oka River southwest of Moscow. Its population was 337,058 at the 2021 census. Kaluga's most famous residen ...

, the 63rd at

Lipetsk Lipetsk (, ), also Romanization of Russian, romanized as Lipeck, is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Lipetsk Oblast, Russia, located on the banks of the Voronezh (river), Voronezh River in the Do ...

, the 75th at

Serpukhov Serpukhov ( rus, Серпухов, p=ˈsʲerpʊxəf) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Oka River, Oka and the Nara (Oka), Nara Rivers, 99 kilometers (62 miles) south fro ...

south of Moscow, and the 97th at Skolin (all five in the

Moscow Military District The Order of Lenin Moscow Military District () is a Military districts of Russia, military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Originally it was a district of the Imperial Russian Army until the Russian Empire's collapse in 191 ...

). An additional possibly disused arsenal in the Moscow Military District is the 107th at

Toropets Toropets () is a town and the administrative center of Toropetsky District in Tver Oblast, Russia, located where the Toropa River enters Lake Solomennoye. Population: History In 1074, when the town was first mentioned in chronicles, Torop ...

. The 5th at

Alatyr, Chuvash Republic Alatyr (; ) is a town in the Chuvash Republic, Russia, located on the Sura River at its confluence with the Alatyr River. Population: 43,161 ( 2002 Census); 43,000 (1968). History Alatyr is one of the oldest towns in the republic. It was fo ...

, the 80th Arsenal at Gagarskiy, the 103rd Arsenal at

Saransk Saransk (, ); ; is the capital city of Mordovia, Russia, as well as its financial and economic centre. It is located in the Volga River, Volga drainage basin, basin at the confluence of the Saranka and Insar Rivers, about east of Moscow. Sar ...

Mordovia Mordovia ( ),; Moksha language, Moksha and officially the Republic of Mordovia,; ; is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia, situated in Eastern Europe. Its capital city, capital is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of S ...

, and the 116th at Krasno-Oktyabrskiy were all in the Volga–Urals Military District.

Fires and explosions

Since 2009, there have been a number of fires and explosions at GRAU ammunition storage depots. * A major series of explosions occurred at an arms depot of the 31st Arsenal of the

Caspian Flotilla The Caspian Flotilla () is the flotilla of the Russian Navy in the Caspian Sea. Established in November 1722 by the order of Tsar Peter the Great as part of the Imperial Russian Navy, the Caspian Flotilla is the oldest flotilla in the Russian ...

near

Ulyanovsk Ulyanovsk,, , known as Simbirsk until 1924, is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River east of Moscow. Ulyanovsk has been the only Russian UNESCO Ci ...

on 13 November 2009. At least two people were killed in the explosion and 43 were rescued from a bomb shelter where they had taken refuge. * There were fires and explosions at the 102nd Arsenal GRAU at Pugachevo (

Malaya Purga Malaya Purga (; , ''Pići Purga'') is a rural locality (a '' selo'') and the administrative center of Malopurginsky District in the Udmurt Republic, Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North A ...

) in

Udmurtia Udmurtia, officially the Udmurt Republic, is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia located in Eastern Europe. It is administratively part of the Volga Federal District. Its capital city, capital is the types of inhabited localities in Russi ...

(Volga-Urals Military District) in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2018, and two other incidents in 2011 at the 99th Arsenal in Bashkiria and at

Ashuluk Ashuluk () is a rural locality (a settlement) near the Caspian Sea in Tambovsky Selsoviet, Kharabalinsky District, Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. The population was 1,678 as of 2010. There are 3 streets. Geography Ashuluk is located 18 km southeast ...

. There were three more fires in 2012. * On December 26, 2013, an

Antonov An-12 The Antonov An-12 ( Russian: Антонов Ан-12; NATO reporting name: Cub) is a four-engined turboprop transport aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. It is the military version of the Antonov An-10 and has many variants. For more than thr ...

B transport aircraft of the Irkut company was flying along the route Novosibirsk - Irkutsk, but when landing, it crashed onto a warehouse of the 109th Arsenal GRAU located near the

Irkutsk Northwest Airport Irkutsk Northwest Airport is an airport in Russia located 11 km northwest of Irkutsk. It is a flyaway airfield for the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, and has no parallel taxiways. It is also known as ''Irkutsk II'' airport, and occasionally serves ...

(

Siberian Military District The Siberian Military District was a Military district of the Russian Ground Forces. The district was originally formed as a military district of the Russian Empire in 1864. In 1924 it was reformed in the Red Army. After the end of World War II the ...

). All nine people on board were killed - six crew members and three passengers. * On 7 October 2020, a grass fire reached ammunition in open storage at

Military Unit Number A Military Unit Number (Russian: войсковая часть, в/ ч; Ukrainian: військова частина, в/ ч) is a numeric alternate designation for military units in the armed forces and internal troops of post-Soviet ...

55443 (once maybe the GRAU's 97th Arsenal) near Zheltukhino ( :ru:Желтухино (деревня, Рязанская область)) in Skopinsky District,

Ryazan Oblast Ryazan Oblast (, ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Ryazan, which is also the oblast's largest city. Geography Ryazan Oblast ...

, igniting munitions. Whether GRAU or the

Western Military District The Western Military District () was a Military districts of Russia, military district of Russia, in existence from 2010 until its abolishment as a unitary military command on February 26, 2024, succeeded by the newly reconstituted Moscow Mil ...

was responsible for the depot was unclear.

Interfaks Interfax () is a Russian news agency. The agency is owned by Interfax News Agency joint-stock company and is headquartered in Moscow. History As the first non-governmental channel of political and economic information about the USSR, Interfax ...

-AVN wrote that there were 113 warehouses and bunkers with 75,000 tons of missiles, rockets, and artillery shells (including 152-mm) at the site. A woman died from injuries and there were at least another 15 victims in stable condition; the fire and explosions "damaged 430 structures, public facilities, apartment buildings, and private homes." * On 28 June 2022 the cell "

BOAK Boak is a family name. Notable people with the name include: * Chet Boak (1935–1983), American baseball player * John Boak (1837–1876), Scottish cricketer *Keith Boak, British television director * Robyn Boak (born 1955), former Australian spri ...

-Vladimir" published a

press release A press release (also known as a media release) is an official statement delivered to members of the news media for the purpose of providing new information, creating an official statement, or making an announcement directed for public releas ...

claiming sabotage action on railway of

55443 VD Barsovo (51st Arsenal of the GRAU) near

Kirzhach Kirzhach () is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Kirzhachsky District in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Kirzhach River in the west of the oblast, west of Vladimir, Russia, Vladimir and ...

Vladimir Oblast Vladimir Oblast () is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Vladimir, which is located east of Moscow. As of the 2010 Census, the oblast's population was 1,443,693. The UNESCO World Heritage L ...

. The rails were damaged. BOAK's press release stated, "Every stopped train helps to get rid of missiles and rockets, which could hit peaceful Ukrainian cities!" * On 4 September 2024 the railroad tracks at the entrance to the 93rd GRAU arsenal of military unit 55443-TD near Kuzhenkino and 7 km West-northwest of Borisovsky Khotilovo air base saw an extensive fire detected by

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

's FIRMS. *

Toropets depot explosions Toropets () is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Toropetsky District in Tver Oblast, Russia, located where the Toropa River enters Lake Solomennoye. Population: History In 1074, when the town was ...

– On the night of 17–18 September 2024, during the

Russo-Ukrainian War The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014 and is ongoing. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, Russia Russian occupation of Crimea, occupied and Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, annexed Crimea from Ukraine. It then ...

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

launched a drone attack on the GRAU ammunition depot in

, causing a massive series of explosions and fires while damaging much of the town. The attack resulted in an earthquake-magnitude blast, and NASA satellites detected the resulting fires over an area of approximately . The blast wave spread up to and was estimated to be consistent with of high-explosives detonating. The

Security Service of Ukraine The Security Service of Ukraine ( ; abbreviated as SBU [] or SSU) is the main Internal security, internal security agency of the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian government. Its main duties include counter-intelligence activity and combati ...

claimed that "

Iskander The 9K720 Iskander (; NATO reporting name SS-26 Stone) is a Russian mobile short-range ballistic missile system. It has a range of . It was intended to replace the OTR-21 Tochka in the Russian military by 2020. The Iskander has several differ ...

, Tochka and KAB missiles" were stored at the facility. Russian officials reported that 13 people had been injured and that an evacuation of the area had been ordered. * On 21 September 2024 both the 719th GRAU arsenal near

Tikhoretsk Tikhoretsk () is a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. It is the administrative center of the Tikhoretsky urban settlement and the Tikhoretsky District of the Krasnodar Territory. Population: Administrative and municipal status Within the framew ...

and the 23rd GRAU arsenal near Oktyabrsky burned due to drone attacks. The 23rd arsenal is located 16 km south of Toropets, where the GRAU arsenal was still on fire from the attack three days prior. *On 9 October 2024 the Karachev ammunition storage depot was attacked by Ukrainian drones. The depot is controlled by the 67th GRAU near

Karachev Karachev () is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Karachevsky District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia. Population: History First chronicled in 1146, it was the capital of one of the Upper Oka Principal ...

, located in

Bryansk Bryansk (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Desna (river), Desna River, southwest of Moscow. It has a population of 379,152 at the 2021 census. Bryans ...

region, approximately 114 km from the Ukrainian border. Fires, explosions and continuous detonations for hours resulted, but initial battle damage assessment has not yet been made by independent military analysts. Two ammunition depot storage warehouses were destroyed. *On 20 November 2024 the 13th arsenal located at Kotovo,

Novgorod Oblast Novgorod Oblast () is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Veliky Novgorod. Some of the oldest Russian cities, including Veliky Novgorod and Staraya Russa, are located in the oblast. The historic m ...

was attacked by Ukrainian drones and Kotovo residents were evacuated to nearby Okulovka as a precaution. *On 22nd April 2025, the 51st arsenal located at Barsovo,

suffered an explosion followed by fires and 450 residents were evacuated from nearby towns.

File:NASA FIRMS 2018-05-16 Pugachevo.png, Extensive fire in and near the 102nd GRAU Arsenal at Pugachevo on 16 May 2018 File:NASA FIRMS 2020-10-07 Zheltukhino.png,

Wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...

enveloping open storage at

55443 near Zheltukhino on 7 October 2020 File:NASA FIRMS 2024-09-04 Kuzhenkino.png, Fire around the railroad tracks at the entrance to the 93rd GRAU arsenal near Kuzhenkino on 4 September 2024 File:NASA FIRMS 2024-09-21 Toropets dual.png, Extensive fire in 23rd arsenal south of

with still ongoing fire at 107th arsenal on 21 September 2024 File:NASA FIRMS 2024-09-21 Tikhoretsk.png, Extensive fire in 719th arsenal northwest of

, along with fires at the Tikhoretsk air base and rail yard on 21 September 2024 File:NASA FIRMS 2025-04-22 Barsovo.png, Extensive fire in the 51st arsenal near Barsovo on 22 April 2025

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 The 2S19 Msta-S is a 152.4 mm self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured by Uraltransmash in the Soviet Union and later in Russia, which entered service in 1989 as the successor to the 2S3 Akatsiya. The vehicle has the running ...

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 or the sea to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-ai ...

s in the

S-25 Berkut The S-25, initially designated as Berkut (; "Berkut" means golden eagle in English) is a surface-to-air guided missile, the first operational SAM system in the Soviet Union. In the early 1950s it was tested at Kapustin Yar. It was deployed in se ...

air defense system had at least four domestic designations: * design name: La-205 * GRAU index: 5V7 * industry name: Product 205 () * Soviet military designation: V-300 Some Soviet

general-purpose bomb A general-purpose bomb is an air-dropped bomb intended as a compromise between blast damage, penetration, and fragmentation in explosive effect. They are designed to be effective against enemy troops, vehicles, and buildings. Characteristics ...

s 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 The Cyrillic script ( ) is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic, Turkic, Mongolic, Uralic, Caucasian and Iranic-speaking countries in Southeastern Europe, Ea ...

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 In logic and related fields such as mathematics and philosophy, "if and only if" (often shortened as "iff") is paraphrased by the biconditional, a logical connective between statements. The biconditional is true in two cases, where either both ...

detector for the 9K310 ( Igla)

air defense Anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) is the counter to aerial warfare and includes "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It encompasses surface-based, subsurface (Submarine#Armament, submarine-lau ...

system * 1S:

Radar Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...

(1S11, target detecting

radar Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...

of 1S91 command and control

vehicle A vehicle () is a machine designed for self-propulsion, usually to transport people, cargo, or both. The term "vehicle" typically refers to land vehicles such as human-powered land vehicle, human-powered vehicles (e.g. bicycles, tricycles, velo ...

2K12 Kub The 2K12 ''"Kub"'' (; English: 'cube') (NATO reporting name: SA-6 "Gainful") mobile surface-to-air missile system is a Soviet Union, Soviet low to medium-level air defence system designed to protect ground forces from air attack. ''2К12'' is ...

system) * 1V: Artillery command vehicles (1V18/19 on

BTR-60 The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet Union, Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs). It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen in public for the first time in 1961. BTR (vehi ...

chassis, 1V13/16 on

MT-LBu The MT-LBu is a Soviet Union, Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious vehicle, amphibious armoured carrier which was developed under the factory index Ob'yekt 10 in the late 1960s, based on the MT-LB. It has a more powerful engine, a 40 cm high ...

chassis) * 1P: Firearms

optic Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behaviour and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behaviour of visible, ultravio ...

(1P87 optic on

AK-12 The AK-12 (Russian: ''"Avtomat Kalashnikova, 2012"'' – GRAU index 6P70) is a Russian Gas-operated reloading, gas-operated assault rifle chambered in 5.45×39mm, designed and manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash), making it the ...

, 1P70 optic on

SVDK SVDK (, GRAU index 6V9), the "''Dragunov sniper rifle, large-calibre''" (Снайперская винтовка Драгунова крупнокалиберная), is a Russian precision rifle from the SVD rifle family chambered for the 9.3� ...

). 1PN designates the firearms optic as a

night vision device A night-vision device (NVD), also known as a night optical/observation device (NOD) or night-vision goggle (NVG), is an optoelectronic device that allows visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's night vision. The ...

, e.g.

1PN51 1PN51 () 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'' () meaning night sig ...

2 (Artillery systems)

* 2A:

Towed artillery Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, short range, long range, and extremely long range target engagement. Until the early 20t ...

systems ( 2A65 Msta-B) * 2B:

Mortar Mortar may refer to: * Mortar (weapon), an indirect-fire infantry weapon * Mortar (masonry), a material used to fill the gaps between blocks and bind them together * Mortar and pestle, a tool pair used to crush or grind * Mortar, Bihar, a village i ...

Systems (

2B9 Vasilek The 2B9 Vasilek (''2Б9 "Василёк" - Cornflower'') also known as Vasilyek, AM 289 Vasilyek or AM 2B9 Vasilyek, is an automatic 82 mm gun-mortar developed in the Soviet Union in 1967 and fielded with the Soviet Army in 1970. Descriptio ...

2B14 Podnos The 2B14 Tray, 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 forces, airborne and other light infantry forces. Despite the in ...

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

Kub KUB or KUBS or Kub or Kubs may refer to: *2K12 Kub, a Soviet mobile surface-to-air missile system *Kubb, a Swedish lawn game with wooden blocks *Kidneys, ureters, and bladder, a medical imaging technique *Scania K UB The Scania K series is a ser ...

surface-to-air missile system, 2K22, Tunguska surface-to-air gun-missile system) * 2S: Self-propelled

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

systems (

2S1 Gvozdika The 2S1 ''Gvozdika'' (, "Dianthus caryophyllus, Carnation") is a Soviet Self-propelled artillery, self-propelled howitzer introduced in 1972 and is in service in Russia and other countries . It is based on the MT-LBu multi-purpose chassis, mount ...

, 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:

Warhead A warhead is the section of a device that contains the explosive agent or toxic (biological, chemical, or nuclear) material that is delivered by a missile, rocket (weapon), rocket, torpedo, or bomb. Classification Types of warheads include: *E ...

s (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 exp ...

HEAT In thermodynamics, heat is energy in transfer between a thermodynamic system and its surroundings by such mechanisms as thermal conduction, electromagnetic radiation, and friction, which are microscopic in nature, involving sub-atomic, ato ...

warhead for the

P-15 Termit The P-15 ''Termit'' (; ) is an anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union's Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. Its GRAU designation was 4K40, its NATO reporting name was ''Styx'' or SS-N-2. China acquired the design in 1958 and created at ...

anti-ship missile An anti-ship missile (AShM or ASM) 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. ...

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

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

R-27 (RSM-25) for D-5 "Zyb" system; 4K40,

missile) * 4P: Launchers * 4S: Launchers (4S95, the launcher of "Kinzhal/Klinok" (

SA-15 Gauntlet The Tor (; ) is an all-weather, low-to medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for destroying airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and short-range ballistic threats (anti-munitions). Ori ...

) air defense complex)

5 (Air defense equipment)

* 5Ae:

Computer A computer is a machine that can be Computer programming, programmed to automatically Execution (computing), carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (''computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic set ...

s (5Ae26, a specialized multi-

CPU A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor, or just processor, is the primary processor in a given computer. Its electronic circuitry executes instructions of a computer program, such as arithmetic, log ...

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 or the sea to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-ai ...

warheads (5B18, the warhead for the

S-125 The S-125 ''Neva/Pechora'' (, NATO reporting name SA-3 ''Goa'') is a Soviet surface-to-air missile system that was designed by Aleksei Isaev to complement the S-25 and S-75. It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than ei ...

's V-601 missile) * 5P: Surface-to-air missile launchers (5P75, the four-missile launcher for the

air defense system) * 5V:

s (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 The exosphere is a thin, atmosphere-like volume surrounding a planet or natural satellite where molecules are gravitationally bound to that body, but where the density is so low that the molecules are essentially collision-less. In the case of ...

anti-ballistic missile An anti-ballistic missile (ABM) is a surface-to-air missile designed to Missile defense, destroy in-flight ballistic missiles. They achieve this explosively (chemical or nuclear), or via hit-to-kill Kinetic projectile, kinetic vehicles, which ma ...

interceptor for the A-135

air defense system Anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) is the counter to aerial warfare and includes "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It encompasses surface-based, subsurface ( submarine-launched), and air-bas ...

: *

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

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

6 (Firearms, air defense equipment)

* 6B:

Body armor Body armour, personal armour (also spelled ''armor''), armoured suit (''armored'') or coat of armour, among others, is armour for human body, a person's body: protective clothing or close-fitting hands-free shields designed to absorb or deflect ...

( 6B1; 6B13, for mountain troops; 6B23,

MOLLE Modular lightweight load-carrying equipment, or MOLLE (pronounced ), is the current generation of load-bearing equipment used by the United States Army. MOLLE equipment uses Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS)-type webbing – rows of hea ...

; 6B43, MOLLE for airborne, naval and special troops),

helmet A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protecti ...

s ( 6B6) * 6Ch: Firearm equipment ( 6Ch12, the PBS-1

flash suppressor A flash suppressor, also known as a flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, or flash cone, is a device attached to the muzzle (firearms), muzzle of a rifle that reduces its Muzzle flash, visible signature while firing by cooling or dispersin ...

and silencer; 6Ch63, AK modernize kit; 6Ch64, front grip) * 6E: Firearm equipment (6E7, flashlight) * 6G: Grenade or rocket launchers (6G3, the

RPG-7 The RPG-7 is a portable, reusable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank, rocket launcher. The RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and are now manufactured by the Russian company Bazalt. The weapon has t ...

man-portable,

rocket-propelled grenade A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), also known colloquially as a rocket launcher, is a Shoulder-fired missile, shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon that launches rockets equipped with a Shaped charge, shaped-charge explosive warhead. Most RPGs can ...

launcher; 6G17, the

VOG-25 The GP-25 ''Kostyor'' ("Bonfire"), GP-30 ''Obuvka'' ("Shoe") and GP-34 are a family of Russian 40 mm under-barrel muzzleloaded grenade launchers for the AK family of assault rifles. The acronym GP stands for ''Granatomyot Podstvolnyj'', " ...

40 mm grenade cartridge) * 6Kh:

Knives A knife (: knives; from Old Norse 'knife, dirk') is a tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade, usually attached to a handle or hilt. One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least 2.5 million years ago, as evidenced ...

and

bayonet A bayonet (from Old French , now spelt ) is a -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... , now spelt ) is a knife, dagger">knife">-4; we might wonder whethe ...

s (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,

tactical vest for PKM/ PKP machine-gunner) * 6T: Firearm equipment (6T2, Samozhenkov's carriage for PKS machine gun) * 6Ts:

Sights A sight or sighting device is any device used to assist in precise visual alignment (i.e. ''aiming'') of weapons, surveying instruments, aircraft equipment, optical illumination equipment or larger optical instruments with the intended target. ...

(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 that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and operated by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see legal definitions). The first firearms originate ...

s (6V1, the

Dragunov sniper rifle The SVD (СВД; ), GRAU index 6V1, is a semi-automatic designated marksman rifle/sniper rifle chambered in the 7.62×54mmR cartridge, developed in the Soviet Union. History The SVD was designed to serve in a squad support role to provide pre ...

) * 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 (, 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. The modernized and most commonly known variant, known as the PKM, ...

) * 6L: Magazine (6L20, bakelite plastic

5.45×39mm The 5.45×39mm cartridge is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge. It was introduced into service in 1974 by the Soviet Union for use with the new AK-74. The 5.45×39mm gradually supplemented and then largely replaced the 7.62×39mm ca ...

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

for the

AK-74 The AK-74 ( Russian: , tr. ''Avtomat Kalashnikova obraztsa 1974 goda'', lit. 'Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1974') is an assault rifle designed by small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1974 as a successor to the AKM. While primarily ...

)

7 (Firearm munitions)

* 7B: Ammunition (7B33, the 7.62×54mmR

armour-piercing Armour-piercing ammunition (AP) is a type of projectile designed to penetrate armour protection, most often including naval armour, body armour, and vehicle armour. The first, major application of armour-piercing projectiles was to defeat the t ...

/ incendiary round) * 7G:

Grenades A grenade is a small explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A modern hand grenade g ...

(7G1, the

RKG-3 RKG-3 is a series of Soviet anti-tank hand grenades. It superseded the RPG-43, RPG-40 and RPG-6 series, entering service in 1950. It was widely used in the 1973 Arab–Israeli War and remained a common weapon into the 2000s and early 2010s, ...

handheld

grenade) * 7Kh: Training ammunition (7Kh1, the

12.7×108mm 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

blank cartridge) * 7N: Ammunition (7N1, the 7.62×54mmR round for

sniper rifle A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long range shooting, long-range rifle. Requirements include high accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment, and optics, for anti-personnel weapon, anti-personnel, anti-materiel rifle, anti-materiel and sur ...

s) * 7P:

Rocket-propelled grenade A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), also known colloquially as a rocket launcher, is a Shoulder-fired missile, shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon that launches rockets equipped with a Shaped charge, shaped-charge explosive warhead. Most RPGs can ...

s (7P1, a 40 mm

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 Subsonic may refer to: Motion through a medium * Any speed lower than the speed of sound within a sound-propagating medium * Subsonic aircraft, a flying machine that flies at air speeds lower than the speed of sound * Subsonic ammunition, a type o ...

) 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 an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scient ...

* 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 powered only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) typic ...

s * 8D:

Rocket engine A rocket engine is a reaction engine, producing thrust in accordance with Newton's third law by ejecting reaction mass rearward, usually a high-speed Jet (fluid), jet of high-temperature gas produced by the combustion of rocket propellants stor ...

s (mostly) * 8F: Warheads * 8K:

Missile A missile is an airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight aided usually by a propellant, jet engine or rocket motor. Historically, 'missile' referred to any projectile that is thrown, shot or propelled towards a target; this ...

s ( 8K51, 8K63 Dvina, 8K64, 8K67, 8K71, 8K81, 8K84) * 8P:

Expendable launch system An expendable launch system (or expendable launch vehicle/ELV) is a launch vehicle that can be launched only once, after which its components are destroyed during reentry or impact with Earth, or discarded in space. ELVs typically consist of s ...

s * 8S: Missile propulsion

stages Stage, stages, or staging may refer to: Arts and media Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly Brit ...

9 (Army missiles, UAVs)

* 9A: Launchers (9A52, the chassis of the

BM-30 Smerch The BM-30 ''Smerch'' (, 'whirlwind'), 9K58 Smerch or 9A52-2 Smerch-M is a heavy Self-propelled artillery, self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union to fire a full load of 12 solid-fuelled projectiles. The ...

MLRS A multiple rocket launcher (MRL) or multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is a type of rocket artillery system that contains multiple launchers which are fixed to a single platform, and shoots its rocket ordnance in a fashion similar to a vol ...

) * 9F: Training and equipment systems (9F827 of the

system) * 9K: Systems ( 9К33 Osa surface-to-air missile system;

9K115-2 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 Igla air defense system) * 9M:

s (

9M133 Kornet The 9M133 Kornet (; "Cornet (rank), Cornet", NATO reporting name AT-14 Spriggan, export designation Kornet-E) is a Military of Russia, Russian man-portable anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) intended for use against main battle ...

9M123 Khrizantema The 9M123 Khrizantema (; , NATO reporting name AT-15 Springer) is a Russian anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). Khrizantema was designed to deal with current and future generations of main battle tanks and can also be used to engage slow and low flyin ...

9M120 Ataka The 9M120 ''Ataka'' (; ''Attack'') is an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) originating from the Soviet Union. The NATO reporting name of the 9M120 missile is the AT-9 ''Spiral-2''. It is the next major generation in the 9K114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) ...

ATGM) * 9P: Launchers (9P140, the chassis of the

BM-27 Uragan The BM-27 Uragan (; GRAU index 9P140) is a self-propelled 220 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union to deliver cluster munitions. The system began its service with the Soviet Army in the late 1970s, and was its first spi ...

) * 9S: 9S737,

Ranzhir Ranzhir (, GRAU designation 9S737 (); ) is a Soviet/Russian mobile command center for several types of Russian anti-aircraft weapons, such as Tor, Tunguska, Strela-10, Igla and Osa. It is used for a mixed grouping of air defense forces. De ...

mobile command center * 9T: Transporter-loaders and re-supply vehicles (9T234 of the

system, 9T244 of the 9K331 Tor system)

10 (Equipment)

* 10P:

(10P19, the PGO-7V sight for RPG-7V grenade launcher) * 10R:

Radios Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connected to ...

(10R30 ''Karat-2'', a radio transmitter)

11 (Rocketry and associated equipment)

* 11A: Rocketry (11A51, the Korolev N1 heavy-lift launcher, 11A511, the

Soyuz Soyuz is a transliteration of the Cyrillic text Союз (Russian language, Russian and Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, 'Union'). It can refer to any union, such as a trade union (''profsoyuz'') or the Soviet Union, Union of Soviet Socialist Republi ...

launcher) * 11B: Nuclear thermal rocket engines ( 11B91 (RD0410); 11B97) * 11D:

s (11D43, the RD-253 liquid fuel rocket engine (First stage of Proton space launcher)) * 11F:

Satellite A satellite or an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scient ...

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

GLONASS GLONASS (, ; ) is a Russian satellite navigation system operating as part of a radionavigation-satellite service. It provides an alternative to Global Positioning System (GPS) and is the second navigational system in operation with global cove ...

satellites A satellite or an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scientif ...

; 11F94 LK, a lunar lander; 11F732

spacecraft ) * 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 called a 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 abs ...

actuators for the 11F624 ''Yantar-2K'' satellite) * 11P: Ground equipment (11P825, the launch complex for the 11K25) * 11S:

Rocket stage A multistage rocket or step rocket is a launch vehicle that uses two or more rocket ''stages'', each of which contains its own engines and propellant. A ''tandem'' or ''serial'' stage is mounted on top of another stage; a ''parallel'' stage is ...

s (11S59, the 1st and 2nd stages ("unit A") of the

Soyuz rocket The Soyuz (, meaning "union", GRAU index 11A511) was a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed in the 1960s by OKB-1 and manufactured by State Aviation Plant No. 1 in Kuybyshev, Soviet Union. It was commissioned to launch Soyuz spacecraft a ...

)

14 (Rocketry and associated equipment)

* 14A: Rockets (14A15, is the "

Soyuz-2-1v The Soyuz2.1v (, GRAU index: 14A15) was a Russian expendable small-lift launch vehicle, developed as a derivative of the Soyuz-2 series. It is notable for omitting the four strap-on boosters common to other R-7 family rockets, making it the fi ...

") * 14D:

s (14D30, the "Briz" booster's S5.98M liquid fuel engine) * 14F:

s (14F10, the IS-MU ''Naryad''

anti-satellite weapon Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) are space weapons designed to incapacitate or destroy satellites for Military strategy, strategic or Military tactics, tactical purposes. Although no ASAT system has been utilized in warfare, a few countries (China, ...

) * 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 missile An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range (aeronautics), range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more Thermonuclear weapon, thermonuclear warheads). Conven ...

s (15A14 and 15A18, the

R-36M The R-36 () is a family of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and space launch vehicles (Tsyklon) designed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The original R-36 was deployed under the GRAU index 8K67 and was given the NATO reportin ...

(SS-18 Satan) ICBM; 15A15, the

UR-100MR The MR-UR-100 Sotka () was a MIRV-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed and deployed by the Soviet Union from 1978 to 1993. The missile was given the NATO reporting name SS-17 Spanker and was built under the Soviet industry de ...

(SS-17 Spanker) ICBM) * 15B: Warheads * 15D: Rocket engines (mostly) * 15F: Warheads * 15N: Command and control vehicles * 15P: Silo-based launchers (mostly) * 15U:

ICBM An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range (aeronautics), range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more Thermonuclear weapon, thermonuclear warheads). Conven ...

ground equipment * 15Zh:

s and

tactical ballistic missile A tactical ballistic missile (TBM), or battlefield range ballistic missile (BRBM), is a ballistic missile designed for short-range battlefield use. Typically, range (aeronautics), range is less than . Tactical ballistic missiles are usually mo ...

s (15Zh45, the RT-21M Pioneer (SS-20 Saber) TBM)

17 (Rocketry and associated equipment)

* 17D: Misc.

rocket engine A rocket engine is a reaction engine, producing thrust in accordance with Newton's third law by ejecting reaction mass rearward, usually a high-speed Jet (fluid), jet of high-temperature gas produced by the combustion of rocket propellants stor ...

s (17D58Ae, the stabilization and orientation engine of the "Briz-M" booster) * 17F:

s (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:

s (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
* https://russiandefpolicy.com/2020/10/13/the-latest-arsenal-fire/ - arsenal fires, 2020 {{DEFAULTSORT:Grau Defence agencies of Russia Ministry of Defense (Soviet Union) Military units and formations established in 1960 Departments of the Ministry of Defence (Russia)