The war in Ukraine is showing that it is not always necessary to develop a new weapon to change the balance on the battlefield. Sometimes, the key is to give a second life to systems with more than half a century of history. That is precisely what a Spanish company has achieved, capable of converting high-precision munitions even in one of the most complex electronic warfare environments in the world.
Behind this achievement is Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E), a Spanish company that, since 2023, has supplied Ukraine more than 10,000 precision guidance kits to modernize veteran BM-21 Grad 122 mm rockets. Thanks to this technology, these projectiles have passed with an accuracy of up to 15 meters.
As confirmed by the company during the , this new technology is designed to integrate into Soviet-era munitions without the need to modify the launchers. The standard version combines satellite and inertial navigation (GNSS/INS), reducing the margin of error of these rockets to about 15 meters and turning them into precision weapons at a much lower cost than developing new ammunition systems.
Beyond these kits
The most striking evolution responds directly to a need raised by kyiv. Given the growing effectiveness of Russian electronic warfare to interfere with GPS signals, the Spanish company developed a variant with laser guidance, capable of maintaining an accuracy of less than 3 meters even under intense electronic interference. During the first quarter of 2026, a thousand of these systems have already been delivered.
The kit makes it possible to take advantage of the enormous stock of Grad rockets that Ukraine retains from the Soviet era without the need to replace existing launchers. Additionally, it can be installed in any compatible 122mm rocket and does not rely on US technology subject to ITAR restrictionsan aspect that facilitates both its production and its export. The system maintains a range of between 20 and 40 kilometers, depending on the projectile used.
The collaboration between EM&E and the Ukrainian defense industry goes beyond these kits. In 2025, the company signed an agreement with Ukroboronprom to develop new weapons systems and localize part of the production in Ukraine, while in 2026 it also reached a cooperation agreement with drone manufacturer Skyeton. An example of how Spanish technology is gaining prominence in one of the most demanding war scenarios internationally.
