The Russian defense industry is developing the Sarma 300mm MLRS, a successor to the Kama MLRS, mounted on the KamAZ chassis, a source in the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said. The new multiple launch system will be highly mobile and will feature “smart” warheads, incorporating “advanced automatic guidance and control systems.”
The Kama MLRS was first introduced in 2007 at the MAKS air show. In essence, it is a variant of the “Smerch” system with 6 launchers instead of 12 guided missiles. The complex is mounted on a KamAZ vehicle, which is highly mobile and capable of running on highways.
The differences between Kama and Smerch are minor, the most noticeable being the lack of a cover for the MZ-196 missile container. However, the system is 7 tons heavier than its predecessor. No Kama systems have been delivered to the Russian military, which may be why Moscow is developing a completely new Sarma MLRS.
"Suppression" of HIMARS
In the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Russian military has deployed a wide range of rocket launch systems, including Soviet-era equipment to modern MLRS recently developed by the Russian Federation.
For example, Moscow has widely deployed the 300mm Tornado-S MLRS to attack Kiev’s troops and military bases with guided munitions. With a satellite-calibrated inertial guidance system, the Russian military can strike deep into Ukrainian territory while maintaining high accuracy.
Meanwhile, the Tornado-S is also used by Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, with some experts even saying that this system is superior to the HIMARS rocket artillery.
The US M142 HIMARS can fire six GPS-guided 227mm rockets, with a range of 80km and accuracy within 5 to 10 meters.
On the other hand, the Russian ground forces' 9A54 Tornado-S systems can accurately fire 12 300mm GLONASS-guided missiles at a distance of 120km. In addition, the Tornado-S is more effective thanks to its reduced launch readiness time of just three minutes.
The range of the MLRS Sarma is not clearly disclosed, but the system is said to significantly enhance Russia's combat capabilities in a context where guided missile airstrikes are Moscow's main attack.
The Ukrainian capital Kiev is currently under massive missile attack. The main targets are ground-based air defense interceptor systems.
“They wanted to suddenly destroy our air defense system after night attacks, carried out with drones and Kh-101 cruise missiles,” Ukrainian air force spokesman Yury Ihnat said on state television.
Military analysts say Russia is “changing tactics” to surprise enemy defense systems. Russia’s Tornado-S systems have forced Ukraine to move ammunition depots away from the front line, creating a weak point in its supply chain.
(According to EurAsian Times)
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