The Sarma 300 mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is a Russian-made heavy rocket artillery system developed to provide highly mobile, precision-capable long-range fire support under modern battlefield conditions. Designed as an evolution of the earlier 9K58-4 “Kama” project, Sarma emphasizes reduced launcher mass, rapid redeployment, and compatibility with guided 300 mm munitions, reflecting a doctrinal shift toward survivable, networked rocket artillery.
Country users: Russia
Technical Data
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Armament
The Sarma MLRS is armed with a rear-mounted six-tube 300 mm rocket launcher, installed on the aft section of the vehicle to allow unrestricted elevation and traverse. The launcher station is mounted on a hydraulically actuated rotating cradle, enabling remote-controlled aiming from within the crew compartment.
The six launch tubes are arranged in a compact rectangular block of two horizontal rows with three tubes each, a configuration that significantly reduces launcher mass compared to traditional twelve-tube systems while maintaining compatibility with standard 300 mm ammunition. Each tube is an open-ended steel launch guide fitted with electrical ignition interfaces and structural reinforcements to manage launch stresses.
The Sarma MLRS supports single-shot, ripple, and full-salvo firing modes, with a complete six-round salvo reportedly delivered in under 19 seconds. Ammunition resupply is conducted using a dedicated transport-loading vehicle, allowing the launcher to be reloaded in only a few minutes, supporting rapid re-engagement or immediate relocation.
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Rockets and Missiles
The Sarma MLRS is compatible with the full range of Russian 300 mm rockets developed for the Smerch and Tornado-S families. Standard unguided 9M55-series rockets provide engagement ranges of 20-70 km, while extended-range unguided rounds such as 9M528 and 9M531 extend effective range to approximately 90 km.
The Sarma MLRS is optimized for the employment of guided 300 mm rockets, including the 9M542, 9M544, and 9M549 families, which extend range to 120–130 km and provide significantly improved accuracy. Guidance is achieved through a combination of inertial navigation and satellite correction using GPS/GLONASS, with reported accuracy deviations of approximately 0.21% of firing range.
The Sarma MLRS can also employ newer guided munitions such as 9M543 and 9M543L, intended to replace earlier designs with insufficient accuracy, as well as limited-production rocket types 9M557 and 9M558, whose characteristics remain undisclosed. Russian sources further report ongoing development of 300 mm rockets with ranges up to 200 km, though these claims remain unverified. The system is also compatible with the UMPB D-30SN long-range interservice guided munition, observed in combat use since early 2024.
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Design and Armor
The Sarma MLRS is based on a high-mobility 8×8 military truck chassis, configured to balance cross-country mobility with reduced overall mass. The general layout follows a conventional MLRS arrangement, with a forward-mounted engine compartment, a front crew cab, and a rear launcher module.
The Sarma MLRS integrates its launcher, hydraulic systems, power generation equipment, and fire-control electronics into a compact vehicle architecture optimized for rapid deployment. The crew cab appears to be protected by armor, providing resistance against shell fragments and small-arms fire, and is equipped to allow all combat operations to be conducted without exposing the crew.
The Sarma MLRS is operated by a crew of three personnel, typically consisting of a commander, driver, and operator. An NBC protection system is reportedly installed to allow operation in contaminated environments.
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Mobility
The Sarma MLRS is based on a KamAZ-63501 8x8 tactical truck as its baseline chassis and is reported to include a protected cabin with increased ballistic and fragmentation resistance for the crew. Published vehicle parameters for the demonstrator include an overall footprint near 11.2 by 2.5 by 3.15 metres, ground clearance of around 390 millimetres, and a combat weight in the mid-24 tonne band.
The Sarma MLRS is powered by a high-output turbocharged diesel engine driving all eight wheels, providing strong on-road speed and off-road mobility. The system is designed for extended road marches and sustained cross-country movement, with a reported operational range of approximately 1,000 km.
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Onboard Equipment
The Sarma MLRS is equipped with an advanced automated fire-control system integrating inertial navigation, satellite positioning, electronic mapping, and secure digital communications. Target data can be received from reconnaissance assets, higher command levels, or artillery control networks and processed directly within the vehicle.
The Sarma MLRS supports automatic positioning, launcher alignment, and ballistic computation, enabling rapid transition from movement to firing. These capabilities allow the system to employ “shoot-and-run” tactics, minimizing exposure time and significantly reducing vulnerability to counter-artillery fire.
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