Russia is developing a strategic response to the threat posed by the U.S. HIMARS systems in Ukraine, ushering in a new era that prioritizes mobile and precision artillery fire with the 300 mm Sarma Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). Rapidly moving beyond the prototype stage, Moscow placed its initial order for two divisions (12 launchers and 12 transport-loading vehicles) of this lighter, more agile system integrated onto the KamAZ-63501 8×8 armored chassis.
A Shift in Doctrine: From Volume to Survivability
Sarma’s core design philosophy is rooted in survival on a modern battlefield saturated with drones and counter-battery radars. To this end, the system makes a deliberate trade-off by cutting the number of launch tubes to six, compared to the conventional 12-tube Tornado-S: higher mobility and survivability in exchange for less salvo volume.
- Agility and Speed: Thanks to an approximate 10-ton weight reduction, the Sarma can achieve shorter deployment times and faster shoot-and-scoot maneuvers after firing compared to the Tornado-S.
- Digital Precision: The system is equipped with a new automated fire control and guidance package. The lifeblood of Sarma is the new generation of guided 300 mm rockets—the 9M543L, 9M557, and 9M558—ordered by Russia to enhance its deep strike capability. These munitions aim to close the gap with Western precision rocket systems, aspiring to reach a 200 km range and a 5 to 15-meter Circular Error Probable (CEP) accuracy.
- Cost vs. Guidance: Procurement records indicate that the new, complex guidance systems of the 9M557/558 rockets cost nearly twice as much as older ammunition. This suggests Russia is ready to bear the cost of acquiring genuine precision strike capability.
Why Sarma is Essential
The conflict in Ukraine has forced Russian logistics centers and command nodes deeper into the rear due to the pressure exerted by HIMARS and intelligence-fused precision targeting. Sarma is Russia’s answer to this threat, designed to allow artillery brigades to strike depots, missile batteries, and supply hubs with precision deep fires, without having to wait for scarce aviation or long-range missiles.
Russian artillery doctrine is shifting toward dispersed, smaller firing elements that can digitally accept mission data, execute a short ripple, and displace before counter-battery fire arrives. Sarma, mounted on the light KamAZ platform, is positioned as the ideal vehicle to meet these new tactical requirements.
The Future and the Test
Sarma’s success will depend not only on the speed of production but also on the consistency of the promised long-range, high-precision munitions under combat conditions. If Sarma can consistently achieve the 5-15 meter CEP accuracy cited for Tornado-S guided rockets, its batteries could significantly complicate Ukraine’s logistics and air defense layout. Otherwise, Sarma will remain a fast carrier for old rockets rather than the precision strike asset Moscow desires.
