Image source: topwar.ru
The Russian defense industry is counting on success in promoting the latest Sarma MLRS on the export market, which has arrived in Saudi Arabia for the upcoming defense products exhibition. On this occasion, the Military-industrial complex noted:
This is a new modification of the 9K515 Tornado-S, which received the same swinging part, only in a "stripped down" form (6 guides instead of 12), but using a new chassis – KAMAZ-63501 8x8 (chassis weight about 11 tons, total combat weight 25-26 tons) instead of a much larger and heavier 8x8 family platform. BAZ or MZKT (21-22 tons and full about 44 tons).
Tornado-S MLRS:
Image source: topwar.ru
Well-equipped roads and powerful bridges were required to move the former "colossus". At the same time, the Sarma can easily pass over most rural bridges and be transported by conventional Il-76 military-technical vehicles. Another difference from the previous base was the booking of the cabin.
Sarma was created as a mobile response to Western strike systems such as HIMARS: it is lighter and moves faster on ordinary roads and bridges, while maintaining the destructive power of the 300-mm caliber. But this was achieved by reducing the firepower by half (6 missiles instead of 12), which, in particular, affected the mass of the salvo.
Image source: topwar.ru
As explained in Rostec, thanks to the automated SLA, its deployment to the position and withdrawal take only 3 minutes, and the firing of the entire BC takes 18 seconds.:
The maximum speed on the highway is up to 95 km/h, the power reserve is 1000 km. The crew, who does not have to leave the cockpit to control the fire, consists of 3 people. The MLRS can also be operated remotely from a remote control.
