During russian President vladimir putin's visit to the Motovilikha Plants, the defense conglomerate showcased what it called a "new" achievement of the russian defense industry: the 300 mm Sarma MLRS.
A short video promoting the system claims a maximum engagement range of up to 200 km. The Sarma, as shown, is mounted on a KAMAZ chassis, features a six-tube launcher, and is said to be capable of firing precision-guided munitions.
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However, Moscow has not disclosed critical details — most importantly, whether serial production has started or if any systems have actually been delivered to operational units.
Despite being touted as "new" military equipment, the Sarma is essentially an offshoot of the experimental 9A52-4 Kama MLRS on the KamAZ-63501 chassis, informally described as a mini-Smerch.
The Kama project dates back to 2007, when the first prototype was presented at the MAKS air show. It was initially intended for clients in Southeast Asia. No export customers emerged, and even the russian Ministry of Defense did not adopt the system. In 2022, russia displayed not a prototype but a scale or exhibition model at Vietnam's VIDEX show.
Claims regarding range have also shifted. Earlier russian statements cited 20–120 km; recent claims now assert 200 km — a figure that should be viewed with skepticism.
More realistically, the Sarma is likely intended to fire guided projectiles such as the 9M544 or 9M549 used in the Tornado-S systems, which have a maximum range of around 120 km.
Previously, Defense Express analyzed the potential to extend the range of the Grad MLRS to 70 km, citing Poland's Langusta program as a reference.
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