Image source: topwar.ru
For the first time, Russia demonstrated at an exhibition in Riyadh a new 300-mm MLRS Sarma, designed to deliver massive and precision strikes against the enemy, and quickly evade counter-battery fire.
The combat vehicle, built on the KamAZ-63501 8x8 chassis with an armored cabin for a crew of 3, has 6 guides and a firing range of up to 120 km when using guided missiles. It is possible to automatically control fire and integrate with the GLONASS/GPS navigation system. The complex is compatible with 300-mm MLRS Smerch shells and its upgraded Tornado-S version.
MLRS "Sarma" (left) and "Tornado-S":
Image source: topwar.ru
The combat weight is about 24 tons, the speed on the road is up to 95 km/ h, the power reserve is 1000 km, the dimensions are 11.2 x 2.5 x 3.15 m, the ground clearance is 390 mm.
Western observers drew attention to the new product.:
This is achieved due to smaller dimensions, a lightweight chassis and a smaller tank (twice as large as the Smerch). The vehicle is much more compact and maneuverable: it can "jump out" into position, fire high-precision projectiles at specific targets (defense sites, headquarters) and escape from a retaliatory strike faster than its heavier counterparts. The presence of an armored cabin increases the protection of the crew.
Rostec recently explained that the Sarma batch of MLRS "is already being tested in the SVO zone."
