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Russia Sends “HIMARS-Killer” to the Battlefield—But It’s Based on a 19-Year-Old Prototype
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has begun field testing a new multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) called Sarma, which state-affiliated media have described as a domestic alternative to the US-made HIMARS.
According to Defense Express on January 25, the system is currently undergoing operational trials on the battlefield.
Russian outlets have highlighted the Sarma’s tactical role in enabling rapid “shoot-and-scoot” operations—a tactic increasingly adopted in drone-dense environments. The launcher is equipped with six rocket tubes, similar to HIMARS, and is designed to engage targets at distances up to 120 kilometers.
As noted by Defense Express, Russian media have claimed that Sarma offers a longer range than HIMARS when using standard 227-mm GMLRS rockets, which are typically effective up to 80 kilometers. However, the US has already introduced ER-GMLRS rounds with a range of up to 150 kilometers, surpassing Sarma’s current capabilities.
Earlier Russian statements had suggested that Sarma might eventually reach a 200-kilometer range, but Defense Express reports that these ambitions are no longer being mentioned in current coverage.
While Sarma was first introduced in 2023, it is based on an earlier platform—the 9A52-4 Kama, a prototype developed in 2007 on a KamAZ-63501 chassis. The Kama system never entered mass production, and Sarma appears to be a continuation of that long-delayed effort.
Despite public displays and battlefield deployment claims, there is no independent confirmation that Sarma has entered serial production. According to Defense Express, Russia has not disclosed the number of units deployed or their current operational status.
Russia’s push to field Sarma comes amid ongoing comparisons with HIMARS, which has played a prominent role in Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities since its delivery in 2022. The US-made system has been credited with enabling precise, mobile attacks on high-value targets, which Russian forces have struggled to counter.
As Defense Express notes, the narrative around Sarma serves as much a symbolic purpose as a military one—positioning the system as a response to Western technological advantages in the ongoing Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Earlier, Ukraine announced plans to develop a domestically produced multifunctional missile system inspired in part by the US-made HIMARS, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and better integrate Ukrainian-developed munitions.
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