In July 2006, media reports indicated Hamas had successfully developed an indigenous variant of the Soviet-origin Katyusha rocket (BM-21 Grad) with a range of 24 kilometers. The new 122 mm Grad was fired (on July 18) at Kibbutz Sdot Bror Hayil—approximately 19 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. The rocket traveled 24 kilometers, exceeding the 20 km range of a standard 122 mm Katyusha.
