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Russia Unveils KamAZ-Mounted Sarma 300mm Launcher After Heavy Battlefield Losses
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russian defense industry has introduced a new version of the Sarma multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS), mounted on a KamAZ-63501 truck, during an exposition in Perm.
According to Army Recognition on September 20, the system was showcased at the Motovilikhinskiye Zavody plant in the presence of senior officials.
The updated Sarma variant carries six 300 mm launch tubes on an 8×8 KamAZ chassis with an armored cab and an automated fire-control suite integrated with reconnaissance and target-acquisition systems, Army Recognition reported.
Developers described the vehicle as a continuation of earlier KamAZ-based projects that sought to emphasize mobility, modular launch packaging, and guided munitions.
According to Army Recognition, the demonstrator uses the KamAZ-63501 truck with a protected cabin providing ballistic and fragmentation resistance.
Reported specifications include an overall length of about 11.2 meters, a combat weight around 24 tonnes, ground clearance of 390 millimeters, and a range approaching 1,000 kilometers. The system is powered by a V8 diesel engine of approximately 360 horsepower.
The launcher accommodates six rockets per vehicle, fewer than the 12 carried by heavier tracked MLRS. This trade-off prioritizes tactical mobility, faster deployment and withdrawal, and lower counter-battery exposure. Sustainment relies on dedicated transport-reloader vehicles that carry full six-rocket packages for rapid resupply.
According to Army Recognition, Sarma is designed to fire both legacy and modern Russian 300 mm rockets.
These include older 9M55 rounds with ranges up to 70 kilometers, intermediate-range types like the 9M528 and 9M531 reaching 90 kilometers, and newer guided Tornado-S family rockets such as the 9M542, 9M544, and 9M549, reported to strike targets at 120–130 kilometers.
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Guided variants use inertial navigation with satellite correction and control surfaces to improve accuracy.
Western defense assessments indicate that Russia has lost thousands of artillery systems and launchers since 2022, many of them aging Soviet-era designs that are increasingly difficult to maintain and supply.
Data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shows that from February 24, 2022, to September 21, 2025, Russian losses include about 32,952 artillery systems, 1,492 multiple-launch rocket systems, and more than 23,281 armored combat vehicles, alongside an estimated 1,101,610 personnel.
Earlier, Russian developers showcased the RD-8 “mothership” drone, capable of carrying FPV units and operated via Starlink terminals despite the service being officially banned in Russia, according to monitoring group VD: Rozvidka Voroha.
