MT-LB with 9K55 Grad-1 launcher spotted in the Kursk region

In the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, an unusual MT-LB tracked tractor with a 9K55 Grad-1 multiple rocket launcher was spotted.

The relevant footage was published by the Russian RIA Novosti.

It is worth noting that the installation of the Grad launcher on the MT-LB chassis and its modification for the 2S1 self-propelled artillery system was discussed back in the Soviet Union.

The combat vehicle existed in three versions: 9K55 Grad-1 on the MT-LB chassis and 2S1 and 9K51 Grad on the MT-LB chassis.

At the time, the promising combat vehicle was designated 9P139, but never went into mass production.

The Russians demonstrated such combat vehicles before the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and there are a series of photos of 9K55 Grad-1 on the MT-LB chassis with a 2S1 stern.

The MT-LB spotted in the Kursk region has original hatches, so it is a completely different vehicle.

It is not known what kind of combat vehicle it is, what its index is, or whether it is mass-produced.

In addition to this unusual MT-LB, Russian propagandists from the Zvezda TV channel showed other interesting specimens: MT-LB with a twin 2M-3 25 mm naval gun, a classic MT-LB with a ZU-23-2 gun, and an MT-LB with a MT-12 Rapira 100 mm anti-tank gun.

Militarnyi has repeatedly reported on Russian and Ukrainian combat vehicles based on MT-LB.

For example, in June 2023, it was reported that the Russians had installed a Soviet A-22 Ogon naval MRL system.

Read more about the modernization of the long-suffering MT-LB in the article “MT-LB: combat chariot of the Russo-Ukrainian war“

Also in September 2023, it was reported that the Russians had installed an RBU-6000 Smerch-2 naval MRL on the MT-LB.