Russia to showcase new MLRS at Saudi weapons show, seeking local ties

GRAZ, Austria — Russia will unveil its newest multiple launch rocket system, the Sarma, at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh next month, marking Moscow’s latest effort to court Middle Eastern defense customers despite Western sanctions targeting its defense industry.

The 300mm Sarma MLRS, mounted on a KAMAZ-63501 8x8 armored chassis, represents Russia’s attempt to field a lighter, more mobile alternative to its existing heavy rocket artillery systems, state tech corporation Rostec announced Jan. 30. The system features six launch tubes, a reduced configuration compared to the 12-tube Tornado-S and BM-30 Smerch systems currently in Russian service, according to imagery shown on Russian television.

Russia moved the Sarma from prototype to procurement in late 2025, ordering two divisions comprising 12 launchers and 12 transport loading vehicles at a total cost of approximately 2.6 billion Rubles ($35 million), according to contract data reported by Ukrainian defense publication Militarnyi .

Moscow needs to deploy more survivable artillery systems on a battlefield increasingly dominated by counter-battery radars and loitering munitions.​

The Sarma’s three-person crew can conduct all operations from within the armored cabin, which Rostec says protects against shrapnel and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition. The system can also be operated remotely from a shelter, addressing Russian concerns about crew vulnerability to drone attacks and precision strikes. Russian sources claim the system can fire guided rockets to ranges approaching 200 kilometers.

Crew survivability has become a key concern on the battlefield in Ukraine, which is swarming with explosive-laden drones seeking out foot soldiers.

The decision to premiere the system in Riyadh underscores Rosoboronexport’s continued interest in Middle Eastern markets, where regional militaries often prioritize hardy and relatively cheap systems capable of operating in rough conditions, and authoritarian governments are more agnostic toward great power politics. By showcasing a lighter 300mm platform alongside more established systems, Russia is positioning itself as an alternative to Western and Asian competitors in a market segment that includes the U.S.-made HIMARS and similar precision rocket artillery.

While Rosoboronexport remains subject to extensive U.S. and European sanctions targeting Russia’s defense industry and financial sector, no United Nations embargo restricts Russian conventional arms exports, and several Middle Eastern states do not apply Western sanctions regimes or have the same moral qualms about striking a deal with Moscow.

The World Defense Show 2026 runs Feb. 8 through 12 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center under the auspices of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense. Russia’s exhibition will also include the BTR-22 8x8 armored vehicle, the Ballista remote weapon station, and the Planshet-A fire control system, according to Russian state media.

Linus Höller is Defense News' Europe correspondent and OSINT investigator. He reports on the arms deals, sanctions, and geopolitics shaping Europe and the world. He holds master’s degrees in WMD nonproliferation, terrorism studies, and international relations, and works in four languages: English, German, Russian, and Spanish.

奥地利格拉茨——俄罗斯将于下个月在利雅得举行的2026年世界防务展上推出其最新的多管火箭炮系统“萨尔玛”，这标志着莫斯科在西方制裁其国防工业的情况下，为争取中东国防客户而做出的最新努力。

俄罗斯国家技术集团公司（Rostec）1月30日宣布，安装在卡玛兹-63501 8x8装甲底盘上的300毫米“萨尔玛”（Sarma）多管火箭炮系统，代表着俄罗斯试图为其现有的重型火箭炮系统提供一种更轻便、更机动的替代方案。根据俄罗斯电视台播放的画面，该系统配备六个发射管，相比目前俄罗斯服役的12管“旋风-S”（Tornado-S）和BM-30“龙卷风”（Smerch）系统，其发射管数量有所减少。

据乌克兰国防出版物《军事》报道的合同数据显示，俄罗斯于 2025 年底将萨尔玛导弹从原型阶段推进到采购阶段，订购了两个师，包括 12 辆发射车和 12 辆运输装载车，总成本约为 26 亿卢布（3500 万美元）。

在反炮兵雷达和巡飞弹日益占据主导地位的战场上，莫斯科需要部署更多生存能力更强的火炮系统。

萨尔玛导弹系统的三人操作小组可在装甲舱内完成所有操作，俄罗斯国家技术集团公司（Rostec）称该装甲舱可抵御弹片和穿甲燃烧弹的攻击。该系统还可从掩体中远程操控，从而消除俄罗斯方面对操作人员易受无人机袭击和精确打击的担忧。俄罗斯方面声称，该系统可发射射程接近200公里的制导火箭。

在乌克兰战场上，载有爆炸物的无人机四处搜寻步兵，机组人员的生存能力已成为战场上的一个关键问题。

俄罗斯国防出口公司选择在利雅得首发该系统，凸显了其对中东市场的持续关注。中东地区的军队往往优先考虑坚固耐用、价格相对低廉且能在恶劣环境下作战的系统，而威权政府则对大国政治持更为中立的态度。通过展示这款更轻便的300毫米平台以及更成熟的系统，俄罗斯正试图将自身定位为西方和亚洲竞争对手的替代选择，该细分市场包括美国制造的HIMARS及类似的精确制导火箭炮。

尽管俄罗斯国防出口公司仍然受到美国和欧洲针对俄罗斯国防工业和金融部门的广泛制裁，但联合国并未对俄罗斯常规武器出口实施禁运，而且一些中东国家没有实施西方制裁制度，也没有同样的道德顾虑与莫斯科达成协议。

2026年世界防务展将于2月8日至12日在沙特阿拉伯国防部主办的利雅得国际会展中心举行。据俄罗斯国家媒体报道，俄罗斯展台将展出BTR-22 8x8装甲车、“弩炮”（Ballista）遥控武器站和“普兰舍特-A”（Planshet-A）火控系统。

林努斯·霍勒是《防务新闻》的欧洲记者和开源情报调查员。他报道影响欧洲乃至全球的军火交易、制裁和地缘政治。他拥有大规模杀伤性武器不扩散、恐怖主义研究和国际关系三个硕士学位，并精通英语、德语、俄语和西班牙语四种语言。