Exclusive Report: KNDS-Germany MARS 3 rocket launcher demonstrates land and naval strike power with NSM missile firing.

The MARS 3 multiple launch rocket system has demonstrated its advanced multi-domain capabilities with the successful launch of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), establishing a new benchmark in European artillery. Developed in close collaboration between KNDS Deutschland, Elbit Systems, and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the MARS 3 system has been tailored to meet the evolving operational requirements of NATO member states. It offers a unique solution for armed forces seeking a high-mobility, long-range launcher capable of delivering precision strikes against both terrestrial and naval targets, including in littoral and coastal defense scenarios.
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MARS 3 rocket launcher developed by KNDS Germany fires NSM anti-ship missile, demonstrating dual use capability against land and naval targets. (Picture source: KNDS Germany with editing by the Army Recognition Group)

MARS 3 is a new Multi-domain Rocket Artillery System developed by KNDS Deutschland and entirely manufactured, sustained, and controlled within Europe. This new-generation system responds directly to NATO nations’ demand for a modern, flexible, and autonomous rocket artillery platform that can adapt to evolving combat environments and multi-domain missions. MARS 3 is not only a strategic evolution of Elbit Systems’ PULS architecture but also a fully European product configured for digital compatibility, logistical independence, and integration into the NATO fire support ecosystem.

MARS 3 is a flexible and responsive multi-launch system designed to meet today’s long-range fire support needs. Able to respond rapidly across a variety of mission scenarios, it delivers unmatched precision and target effect. The system bridges the gap between conventional artillery systems and long-distance cruise missiles through two unique features. First, it is vehicle agnostic, meaning it can be integrated onto different types of wheeled or tracked platforms to match user requirements. Second, it is ammunition agnostic, allowing full interchangeability between guided and unguided rocket types as well as long-range missiles, including the newly integrated NSM.

The MARS 3 launcher is fully autonomous and incorporates an automatic target acquisition system that ensures on-demand availability for fire missions. Once a target is engaged, the launcher’s shoot-and-scoot capability allows it to rapidly relocate and prepare for follow-up missions, maximizing survivability in high-threat environments. Its high mobility is achieved through an Iveco Trakker 8x8 wheeled chassis delivering a combat weight under 40 tons, a 540 horsepower engine, and a maximum road speed of 90 km/h.

For land operations, MARS 3 can deploy a wide spectrum of munitions tailored for various tactical scenarios. The 122 mm Accular rockets offer high-accuracy short-range support up to 35 km, while the 160 mm Accular extends this capability to approximately 40 km. For medium-range precision strike, the EXTRA guided rocket reaches distances up to 150 km with a circular error probable (CEP) of under 10 meters. At the upper end of its land-attack capability, the Predator Hawk quasi-ballistic missile can engage fortified or high-value targets at ranges up to 300 km, offering a strategic deep strike option with exceptional precision.

The addition of the Naval Strike Missile significantly expands the system’s operational envelope by incorporating anti-ship and coastal strike capability directly into the artillery toolkit. The NSM, developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, is a sea-skimming, high-subsonic missile equipped with a 125 kg blast-fragmentation warhead, GPS-aided inertial navigation, terrain contour matching (TERCOM), a laser altimeter, and a passive imaging infrared (IIR) seeker for autonomous terminal guidance. Designed to engage both naval vessels and land-based targets, the NSM's integration into the MARS 3 transforms the traditionally maritime missile into a mobile land-based coastal defense weapon.

Beyond its firepower, MARS 3 is equipped with an advanced fire control system compatible with NATO C4I infrastructure, enabling it to execute precision missions in joint and coalition operations. Its containerized design supports fast reloading and logistics adaptability, while the open architecture ensures future compatibility with emerging munitions and sensor systems.

With the successful launch of the NSM, MARS 3 confirms its role as a transformative asset in the NATO arsenal, delivering unmatched flexibility, precision, and dual-domain lethality. KNDS’s full-European solution redefines the place of rocket artillery in modern warfare by combining conventional land strike capabilities with advanced maritime interdiction, making MARS 3 a truly integrated, mobile, and future-ready platform for multi-theater operations.