Russia sends mock HIMARS analogues to battlefield
Photo: HIMARS (Getty Images)
Russian media are actively promoting reports about a new multiple launch rocket system, claiming it is already being used on the battlefield and drawing comparisons with Western systems, according to a publication by Defense Express.
What is being claimed about Russia's HIMARS analogue
Russian propaganda outlets have circulated reports about a new MLRS dubbed Sarma, said to be capable of striking targets at ranges of up to 120 km.
It is claimed that the system operates on a "shoot-and-scoot" principle, consistent with mobile artillery tactics designed to quickly fire and relocate. Reports also suggest that the system is already undergoing trials directly in the combat zone.
The Russian side compares Sarma to the US-made HIMARS, highlighting its six launch tubes and a similar concept of rapid deployment and withdrawal.
Additionally, it is claimed that the system uses 300 mm rockets with a range of up to 120 km, while standard 227 mm GMLRS munitions for HIMARS typically have a range of 70–80 km.
Range and development facts
At the same time, since 2024, extended-range ER-GMLRS rockets for HIMARS have been produced with a range of up to 150 km, exceeding the claimed capabilities of Sarma.
Russia has previously mentioned plans to extend the system’s range to 200 km, but there is no confirmed evidence supporting this.
The Sarma project is described as a continuation of the experimental 9A52-4 Kama MLRS, built on the KamAZ-63501 chassis and first unveiled in 2007.
An updated version was reportedly in development as of 2023, but no data on serial production has been made public.
Under the PURL program, the United States plans to supply Ukraine with $15 billion worth of weapons in 2026, with European partners financing the deliveries as part of a coordinated support mechanism.
Meanwhile, in January 2026, Ukrainian drones reportedly eliminated nearly 30,000 Russian troops, figures that, according to available data, exceeded Russia’s mobilization numbers for the same period. This underscores the growing role of drones on the battlefield and the emergence of a technological edge for Ukrainian forces.
