Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU)
GRAU Overview and Mission
The Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU; Russian: Glavnoye Raketno-Artilleriyskoye Upravleniye) is a central directorate of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation responsible for the life-cycle management of rocket and artillery armaments, small arms, conventional missiles, ammunition, and associated materiel for the Armed Forces. Core functions encompass requirements definition, procurement, acceptance and quality control, codification and cataloging (via the GRAU index system), storage and distribution, maintenance and repair, and demilitarization/disposal of obsolete or unsafe stocks. Headquarters is in Moscow.
Command and Leadership
Chief: Lieutenant General Nikolay Parshin. Public reporting identifies him as the head of the GRAU; the headquarters location is Moscow. The directorate functions within the Ministry of Defence armaments complex and interfaces with the Deputy Minister of Defence responsible for armaments and state defense orders. No classified internal command details are provided here.
Enumerated Subordinate Facilities (per provided data)
The following GRAU-related entities are listed, with their military unit (v/ch) identifiers: - 100th Arsenal (military unit 55486) - 101st Arsenal (military unit 55448) - 104th Arsenal (military unit 34581) - 120th Arsenal (military unit 42696) - 1215th Central Artillery Ammunition Base (military unit 75226) - 13th Arsenal (military unit 64531) - 2161st Arsenal (military unit 96570) - 23rd Arsenal (military unit 71628) - 2652th Artillery Armament and Ammunition Base (military unit 09956) - 54th Arsenal (military unit 68586) - 55th Arsenal (military unit 86286) - 59th Arsenal (abandoned) (military unit 42697) - 68th Arsenal (military unit 30184) - 70th Arsenal (military unit 92922) - 721st Training Center GRAU (military unit 41026) - 75th Arsenal (military unit 42708) - 94th Arsenal (military unit 63779) - Artillery Arsenal (military unit 42289) - Missile Arsenal (military unit 67877) - Weapons Depot (military unit 74059) Note: The "abandoned" status for the 59th Arsenal reflects the provided input; open sources do not consistently confirm its current disposition.
Functional Roles of Arsenals and Bases
GRAU arsenals and bases store, maintain, and distribute conventional munitions and related equipment for the Ground Forces and other supported branches. Typical responsibilities include: receipt and acceptance testing of ammunition from industry; periodic technical inspections (including propellant stability checks and fuze integrity); refurbishment and limited repairs; assembly of components (e.g., fuzes, charges) prior to issue; safe storage by compatibility group; and preparation of consignments for rail/road shipment to military districts and tactical formations. Larger central bases also perform demilitarization and disposal of expired or unsafe munitions.
Central vs Regional Storage Structure
The listing includes a central-level site (1215th Central Artillery Ammunition Base, v/ch 75226) and multiple arsenals that function at strategic, operational, and regional echelons. Central bases hold large, diverse inventories for long-term storage and national-level distribution. Arsenals at lower echelons maintain stocks aligned to regional operational needs, support unit-level resupply, and execute maintenance tasks within their capability. The 2652th Artillery Armament and Ammunition Base (v/ch 09956) indicates a logistics facility focused on artillery armament and ammunition support, distinct from but complementary to general-purpose arsenals.
Training Infrastructure
The 721st Training Center GRAU (v/ch 41026) provides specialist training for ordnance, ammunition management, storage safety, handling procedures, technical inspection, and arsenal operations. Training covers regulatory compliance, explosive ordnance safety, accounting and documentation standards, and the operation of specialized equipment used in storage, maintenance, and disposal of ammunition.
Missile and Artillery-Specific Storage Nodes
The entries "Missile Arsenal" (v/ch 67877) and "Artillery Arsenal" (v/ch 42289) denote specialized storage and maintenance roles aligned to their nomenclature. Missile-focused arsenals manage storage and servicing of conventional missile rounds and components for ground-launched systems under GRAU purview, while artillery-focused arsenals concentrate on conventional artillery ammunition, propellant charges, and fuzes. Exact inventories and locations are not publicly disclosed.
Weapons Depot Entry
The "Weapons Depot" (v/ch 74059) reflects a general-purpose storage and distribution facility for weapons and associated equipment. Such depots hold small arms, crew-served weapons, and ancillary items, and may also support limited maintenance and kitting operations. Specific stocklists and site characteristics are not publicly available.
Storage Infrastructure and Explosives Safety
GRAU storage sites typically employ earth-covered magazines and segregated warehouses with blast protection, compatibility-group separation, lightning protection, firebreaks, and access control. Supporting infrastructure commonly includes rail spurs, loading ramps, ammunition processing buildings, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) areas, and firefighting water reserves. Operations follow Russian military explosives safety standards, including adherence to explosive quantity distances and compatibility segregation; detailed internal standards and magazine layouts are not publicly released.
Logistics and Transportation
Ammunition movements are primarily conducted by rail for bulk consignments and by road for regional distribution. Arsenals prepare shipments in standardized packaging with proper hazard labeling and documentation, coordinating with military transportation authorities. Central bases dispatch munitions to operational arsenals and directly to units as required. Open-source reporting since 2022 has frequently documented ammunition train movements within Russia, consistent with elevated consumption in ongoing operations.
Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and Disposal
Arsenals and bases perform periodic inspection and testing to monitor shelf life and stability of propellants, explosives, and fuzes; conduct refurbishment (e.g., repackaging, cleaning, resealing); and execute limited component-level repairs in accordance with technical orders. Disposal activities at designated facilities include disassembly, controlled detonation, burning of propellant, and other demilitarization processes consistent with safety and environmental regulations. Detailed procedures and annual throughput figures are not publicly disclosed.
Ammunition Categories Managed
GRAU-managed inventories include: small arms ammunition; cannon and automatic gun rounds; mortar ammunition; tank gun ammunition; field and self-propelled artillery projectiles and modular propelling charges; multiple-launch rocket system rockets; anti-tank guided missile rounds; fuzes and primers; engineer explosives and demolition charges; and associated packaging and handling equipment. Nuclear warheads are excluded from GRAU custody and fall under the 12th Main Directorate (12th GUMO).
Codification and the GRAU Index
The GRAU index provides standardized designations across weapon and ammunition classes and is widely used in technical documentation and procurement. Examples of index logic include: 2S/2A series for artillery systems and guns; 2B series for mortars; 6P series for small arms; and 9K/9M series for missile systems and missiles, respectively. This codification underpins inventory control, interoperability, and life-cycle tracking across the arsenal network.
Inter-Directorate Boundaries
The 12th Main Directorate (12th GUMO) controls nuclear munitions and specialized components; strategic missile forces (RVSN) maintain distinct logistics for ICBMs; the Aerospace Forces oversee air-defense missile logistics through their own structures. GRAU’s remit covers conventional ground force munitions and related delivery systems. Coordination occurs at the Ministry of Defence level for procurement and standardization.
Historical Context and Network Adjustments
The Russian Ministry of Defence has periodically reorganized and consolidated ammunition storage infrastructure, including closures, relocations, and modernization of selected arsenals over the past decade. Such changes have been reported in official announcements and open sources, aiming to improve safety, reduce legacy stockpiles, and rationalize logistics. Specific internal reorganization orders and current detailed site postures are not publicly released.
Data Limitations and Verification Notes
The provided list identifies multiple GRAU arsenals, bases, and a training center with associated military unit numbers. Precise locations, stock compositions, and current readiness levels of these sites are not publicly available in authoritative form. Where status descriptors are included (e.g., "abandoned" for the 59th Arsenal), they are noted as given; independent, up-to-date confirmation may be limited in open sources. No classified information is included.