Artillery

BM-30 Smerch

Also known as
  • 9K58 Smerch
  • 9A52 Smerch
  • 9A52-2 Smerch-M
  • 9A52-2
  • Smerch-M
  • M1983
  • 300 mm Smerch

The BM-30 Smerch, also designated 9K58, is a Soviet-designed heavy multiple launch rocket system built around 300 mm rockets and a 12-tube launcher on an 8x8 wheeled chassis. Its ammunition family includes high-explosive, cargo, mine-laying, sensor-fuzed, and thermobaric rounds, making Smerch a deep-fire artillery system rather than a front-line direct-fire weapon. In Ukraine, Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh, documented Smerch-family remnants and firing reports tie the launcher to long-range area fires, including cluster-munition attacks.

BM-30 Smerch, 300 mm heavy multiple launch rocket system, Artillery
Image source: File:BM-30 Smerch ARMY-2018.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Fire SupportLong-Range Strike

Russian forces used 300 mm 9M55K Smerch cluster-munition rockets during the full-scale invasion, with Human Rights Watch documenting remnants and submunitions from attacks on Kharkiv and Mykolaiv in February and March 2022. Bellingcat also summarized 9M55K Smerch cluster-rocket evidence from the 2014 fighting as documented for both sides.

Role details
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Role in conflict
Long-range cluster rocket fires

Human Rights Watch documented evidence that Armenian or Nagorno-Karabakh forces used 300 mm 9M55K Smerch cluster rockets during the 2020 fighting, while noting it had no evidence that Azerbaijan used its Smerch rockets in the conflict.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union
Built by
NPO Splav
Built in
Russia
Type
300 mm heavy multiple launch rocket system
Service note
Entered service in the late Soviet period; still used in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Designer
Splav State Research and Production Association
Designed
Early 1980s
Produced
Late 1980s-present

Specifications

Caliber
300 mm
Launcher
12 launch tubes on an 8x8 wheeled chassis
Rocket family
9M55-series rockets, including high-explosive fragmentation, cluster-munition, and thermobaric warhead options
Firing range
About 20-70 km with 9M55-series rockets
Crew
3
Combat weight
About 43,700 kg
Road speed
Up to 60 km/h
Road range
About 850 km
Variants

The catalog treats BM-30 Smerch as the 9K58 launcher family; rows below separate adjacent launcher configurations from the fired 300 mm rocket family.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
9A52-2TTatra-chassis export launcher

Army Recognition distinguishes 9A52-2T as the Smerch version using the Tatra-816 chassis.

Sources: BM-30 Smerch 9K58 MLRS

9A52-4 Tornadosix-tube lighter modernization

Army Recognition lists 9A52-4 Tornado as a modernized 300 mm version with a new six-tube launcher unit, separate from the 12-tube BM-30 baseline.

Sources: BM-30 Smerch 9K58 MLRS

Launched Rockets

The BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family launches 300 mm rockets across several roles, including cargo cluster rounds, high-explosive and penetrating high-explosive rounds, sensor-fuzed anti-armor rounds, thermobaric rockets, and remote mine-laying ammunition.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
9M526 self-guiding submunition rocket, 300 mm rocket with self-guiding submunitions, Munitions9M526 self-guiding submunition rocket300 mm self-guiding submunition rocket

Rosoboronexport lists 300 mm ammunition for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family, and the 9M526 page says the rocket is designed to use from the Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

Sources: Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog, 9M526 rocket | Missilery.info

9M533 self-guiding submunition rocket, 300 mm rocket with 9N268 self-guiding submunitions, Munitions9M533 self-guiding submunition rocket300 mm self-guiding submunition rocket

Missilery's 9M533 page says the rocket is designed to use from the Smerch multiple launch rocket system and carries 9N268 self-targeting submunitions.

Sources: 9M533 rocket | Missilery.info

9M55K6 self-guiding submunition rocket, 300 mm rocket with 9N268 self-guiding submunitions, Munitions9M55K6 self-guiding submunition rocket300 mm self-guiding submunition rocket

Missilery says the 9M55K6 is designed to use from the 9K58 Smerch multiple launch rocket system, and Rosoboronexport lists it in the 300 mm ammunition catalog.

Sources: 9M55K6 rocket | Missilery.info, Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog

9M530 penetrating high-explosive rocket, 300 mm guided rocket, Munitions9M530 penetrating high-explosive rocket300 mm penetrating high-explosive rocket

Rosoboronexport lists the 9M530 as a 300 mm rocket for the Smerch family, and Missilery says it is designed to use from the 9K58 Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

Sources: Rosoboronexport 9M530 catalog page, 9M530 rocket

9M55K5 cumulative-fragmentation submunition rocket, 300 mm rocket with cassette warhead carrying cumulative-fragmentation submunitions, Munitions9M55K5 cumulative-fragmentation submunition rocket300 mm cassette rocket

Rosoboronexport lists the 9M55K5 as a 300 mm Smerch rocket, and Missilery says it is designed to use from the 9K58 Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

Sources: Rosoboronexport 9M55K5 catalog page, 9M55K5 rocket

9M55K cargo rocket, 300 mm cluster cargo rocket, Munitions9M55K cargo rocket300 mm cargo rocket

ROE's 300 mm ammunition catalog lists the 9M55K as a rocket for the Smerch MLRS, matching the cataloged 9M55K cargo rocket entry.

Sources: 9M55K Cargo Rockets and 9N235 Submunitions in Syria, 300mm smerch 9m55 rocket

9M55K1 Smerch rocket, 300 mm Smerch rocket, Munitions9M55K1 Smerch rocket300 mm sensor-fuzed anti-tank rocket

Rosoboronexport lists the 9M55K1 among 300 mm ammunition for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family, and Missilery says the rocket is designed to use from the Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

Sources: Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog, 9M55K1 rocket

9M525 fragmentation submunition rocket, 300 mm rocket with fragmentation submunitions, Munitions9M525 fragmentation submunition rocket300 mm fragmentation submunition rocket

Rosoboronexport lists the 9M525 among 300 mm ammunition for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family, and Missilery says the rocket is designed to use from the Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

Sources: 9M525 rocket, Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog

9M531 cumulative-fragmentation submunition rocket, 300 mm rocket with cumulative-fragmentation submunitions, Munitions9M531 cumulative-fragmentation submunition rocket300 mm cumulative-fragmentation submunition rocket

Rosoboronexport lists the 9M531 among 300 mm ammunition for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family, and Missilery describes it as designed for the Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

Sources: Rosoboronexport 9M531, 9M531 rocket

9M532 miniature self-guiding submunition rocket, 300 mm rocket with miniature self-guiding submunitions, Munitions9M532 miniature self-guiding submunition rocket300 mm self-guiding submunition rocket

Rosoboronexport lists the 9M532 among 300 mm ammunition for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family, and Missilery says the rocket is designed to use from the Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

Sources: Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog, 9M532 rocket

9M528 high-explosive fragmentation rocket, 300 mm high-explosive fragmentation rocket, Munitions9M528 high-explosive fragmentation rocket300 mm high-explosive fragmentation rocket

Rosoboronexport lists the 9M528 among 300 mm ammunition for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family.

Sources: Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog

9M529 thermobaric rocket, 300 mm thermobaric rocket, Munitions9M529 thermobaric rocket300 mm thermobaric rocket

Rosoboronexport lists 9M529 as a thermobaric rocket for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family.

Sources: 9M529 rocket

9M542 extended-range high-explosive rocket, 300 mm extended-range high-explosive fragmentation rocket, Munitions9M542 extended-range high-explosive rocket300 mm extended-range high-explosive rocket

Rostec lists 9M542 extended range ammunition used in Smerch multiple launch rocket launchers produced by Rostec's Splav.

Sources: Rostec to take part in SITDEF-2013

9M527 anti-tank mine rocket, 300 mm anti-tank mine cargo rocket, Munitions9M527 anti-tank mine rocket300 mm anti-tank mine rocket

Missilery.info says the 9M527 rocket is designed to use from the 9K58 Smerch multiple launch rocket system.

Sources: 9M527 rocket - Missilery.info

9M55K4 Smerch rocket, 300 mm remote mine-laying rocket, Munitions9M55K4 Smerch rocket300 mm remote mine-laying rocket

Deagel describes the 9M55K4 as a 300 mm rocket in the Smerch family designed for remote laying of anti-tank land mines, and Missilery gives the same 25-mine payload and self-destruction window.

Sources: 9M55K4 rocket | Deagel, 9M55K4 rocket | Missilery.info

Launcher Family Boundaries

The BM-30 page covers the original 9K58 Smerch launcher family and its 300 mm ammunition set. Related catalog records separate later systems that share the caliber or lineage but are not identical to the baseline Soviet launcher.

System or itemRelationship to BM-30 SmerchCatalog treatment
Tornado-S, 300 mm multiple launch rocket system, ArtilleryTornado-SRosoboronexport describes the 9K515 as based on BM-30 Smerch and able to fire older Smerch projectiles as well as new guided missiles.Tracked as a separate modernized Russian launcher because its guided 9M544/9M549 ammunition and fire-control context differ from baseline Smerch.
Vilkha, 300 mm guided multiple launch rocket system, ArtilleryVilkhaUkrainian reporting describes Vilkha as a guided 300 mm rocket system for modified BM-30 Smerch launch architecture.Tracked as a separate Ukrainian precision-rocket family, not as generic Smerch ammunition.
9M55-series rocketsOSMP, CAT-UXO, Rosoboronexport, and Missilery sources place cargo, high-explosive, thermobaric, mine-laying, and sensor-fuzed rounds inside the Smerch-fired 300 mm family.Linked ammunition records are relationship-only unless direct conflict evidence identifies the exact rocket or submunition.

Sources: 300mm 9K515 MLRS; Ukraine Is Using Guided Rockets With More Range Than HIMARS-Launched Ones; 9M55 Smerch series; Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog; 300mm smerch 9m55 rocket.

Timeline

BM-30 Smerch Key Events

  1. Western observers identify M1983

    Army Recognition and GlobalSecurity both describe Smerch as first observed by Western analysts in 1983, before Soviet service entry.

    Sources: BM-30 Smerch 9K58 MLRS, 9K58 Smerch

  2. Russian service entry reported

    Army Recognition reports BM-30 Smerch entering Russian army service in 1987, while other references place late-Soviet service in the same period.

    Sources: BM-30 Smerch 9K58 MLRS, 9K58 Smerch

  3. Smerch cluster rockets documented in Ukraine

    Bellingcat summarized 9M55K Smerch cluster rockets as frequently used by both sides in the 2014 fighting in Ukraine, drawing on Human Rights Watch documentation.

    Sources: These are the Cluster Munitions Documented by Ukrainian Civilians

  4. Russian Smerch firing reported in Syria

    ABC News reported Russian ground troops firing BM-30 Smerch launchers near Hama in support of Syrian government operations.

    Sources: Russian Troops Fire Artillery and Rockets in Syria

  5. 9M55K and 9M528 evidence appears in Nagorno-Karabakh

    Human Rights Watch documented 9M55K Smerch cluster rockets and Azerbaijan's mine-action agency identification of 9M528 Smerch rockets after 2020 attacks.

    Sources: Technical Briefing Note: Cluster Munition Use in the Karabakh Conflict

  6. Russian 9M55K use documented in full-scale Ukraine invasion

    Human Rights Watch documented Russian 9M55K Smerch cluster-munition rockets in attacks on Kharkiv and later Mykolaiv during the opening weeks of the full-scale invasion.

    Sources: Ukraine: Cluster Munitions Launched Into Kharkiv Neighborhoods, Ukraine: Cluster Munitions Repeatedly Used on Mykolaiv

Media

BM-30 Smerch Videos

BM-30 Smerch Images

BM-30 Smerch, 300 mm heavy multiple launch rocket system, Artillery - view 1
Source: File:BM-30 Smerch-5173.JPG
Related Weapon Systems
BM-27 Uragan, 220 mm self-propelled multiple launch rocket system, ArtilleryArtilleryBM-27 Uragan220 mm self-propelled multiple launch rocket systemThe BM-27 Uragan is the Soviet 9K57 220 mm multiple launch rocket system, built around the 16-tube 9P140 launcher and 9T452 transporter-loader on ZIL-135LM-family wheeled chassis. Its rocket family gives heavier payloads than BM-21 Grad-class systems, including high-explosive fragmentation, cluster, incendiary, fuel-air explosive, and mine-scattering rounds. Documented use spans Russia-Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Nagorno-Karabakh, and the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, with the system still relevant through Ukrainian overhaul work and Bureviy modernization.
9M528 high-explosive fragmentation rocket, 300 mm high-explosive fragmentation rocket, MunitionsMunitions9M528 high-explosive fragmentation rocket300 mm high-explosive fragmentation rocketThe 9M528 is a Russian 300 mm high-explosive fragmentation artillery rocket for the 9K58/BM-30 Smerch family. It is the unitary blast-fragmentation option in the Smerch ammunition set, carrying a 243 kg warhead with 95 kg of explosive and 800 preformed fragments to a reported 90 km maximum range. Human Rights Watch linked the designation to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh fighting after Azerbaijan's mine-action agency identified a 9M528 rocket at Ayrija in Goranboy district.

Sources

Rosoboronexport 9M530 catalog pagePublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export catalog page naming the 9M530 as a 300 mm rocket with a penetrating high-explosive warhead for the Smerch MLRS and showing the catalog image. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M530 rocketPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports the 9M530's specifications, 2004 completion, Smerch compatibility, and drawing provenance from NPO Splav. | Accessed: 2026-06-27BM-30 Smerch 9K58 MLRSPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports launcher background, manufacturer attribution, variants, dimensions, crew, mobility, and 20-70 km range data. | Accessed: 2026-06-209K58 SmerchPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports development background, Splav attribution, 12-tube launcher configuration, 9M55K rocket, and 20-70 km range. | Accessed: 2026-06-209M55 Smerch seriesPublisher: Open Source Munitions Portal | Note: Supports 300 mm 9M55-series rocket characteristics and the presence of cluster, high-explosive fragmentation, and thermobaric warhead variants. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalogPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export catalog page listing the 9M525 and 9M532 among 300 mm land-force ammunition for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M532 rocketPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports BM-30 / 9K58 launcher compatibility with the 9M532 export round and the rocket's 2004 export-era background. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M525 rocketPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports BM-30 / 9K58 launcher compatibility with the 9M525 export round and the rocket family's 2004 export-era background. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Rosoboronexport 9M55K5 catalog pagePublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export catalog page listing the 9M55K5 as a 300 mm Smerch rocket with a cassette warhead carrying cumulative-fragmentation submunitions. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M55K5 rocketPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports BM-30 / 9K58 launcher compatibility with the 9M55K5 export round and the rocket's Smerch-family launch relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Rostec to take part in SITDEF-2013Publisher: Rostec | Note: Supports 9M542 extended range ammunition used in Smerch multiple launch rocket launchers produced by Rostec's Splav. | Accessed: 2026-06-27300mm 9K515 MLRSPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export page supporting the relationship between BM-30 Smerch and the later 9K515/Tornado-S launcher, including legacy Smerch projectile compatibility. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Ukraine Is Using Guided Rockets With More Range Than HIMARS-Launched OnesPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports Vilkha as a Ukrainian guided 300 mm rocket family using modified BM-30 Smerch launch architecture. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Rosoboronexport 9M531Publisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export catalog page listing the 9M531 300 mm ammunition item for the BM-30 / 9K58 Smerch family. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M531 rocketPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports BM-30 / 9K58 launcher compatibility with the 9M531 export round and the rocket's 2004 export-era background. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M529 rocketPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export catalog page listing 9M529 as a 300 mm thermobaric rocket for the Smerch MLRS. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M55K Cargo Rockets and 9N235 Submunitions in SyriaPublisher: Armament Research Services | Note: Supports the 9M55K cargo rocket's Smerch-fired family relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-28300mm smerch 9m55 rocketPublisher: CAT-UXO | Note: Supports the 9M55K cargo rocket's Smerch-fired family relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-289M526 rocket | Missilery.infoPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports BM-30 / 9K58 launcher compatibility with the 9M526 export round and the rocket's Smerch-family launch relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M533 rocket | Missilery.infoPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports BM-30 / 9K58 launcher compatibility with the 9M533 round and the rocket's Smerch-family launch relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M55K1 rocketPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports BM-30 / 9K58 launcher compatibility with the 9M55K1 round and the rocket's Smerch-family launch relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M55K6 rocket | Missilery.infoPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports BM-30 / 9K58 launcher compatibility with the 9M55K6 self-guiding submunition rocket and the rocket family's export-era background. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M527 rocket - Missilery.infoPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports the 9M527 rocket as a Smerch-fired 300 mm round and documents the launch-system compatibility needed for the pairing section. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M55K4 rocket | DeagelPublisher: Deagel | Note: Supports 9M55K4 identification, Smerch-family compatibility, contractor Splav, the remote anti-tank mine-laying role, 25-mine payload, and 20-70 km range. | Accessed: 2026-06-279M55K4 rocket | Missilery.infoPublisher: Missilery.info | Note: Supports 9M55K4 identification and Smerch launch-compatibility for the reciprocal launch relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Ukraine: Cluster Munitions Launched Into Kharkiv NeighborhoodsPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use by Russian forces, documenting 9M55K Smerch cluster-munition rockets in Kharkiv on February 28, 2022. | Accessed: 2026-06-20These are the Cluster Munitions Documented by Ukrainian CiviliansPublisher: Bellingcat | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War Smerch use context by identifying 9M55K Smerch cluster rockets fired from BM-30 launchers and summarizing earlier 2014 evidence for both sides. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Ukraine: Cluster Munitions Repeatedly Used on MykolaivPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use by Russian forces, documenting Smerch rocket remnants and 9M55K Smerch cargo carriers in Mykolaiv attacks in March 2022. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Russian Troops Fire Artillery and Rockets in SyriaPublisher: ABC News | Note: Directly supports 2011 Syrian Civil War use by Russian ground troops, identifying BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launchers fired near Hama in support of Syrian regime operations in October 2015. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Russia/Syria: Extensive Recent Use of Cluster MunitionsPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Directly supports 2011 Syrian Civil War Smerch munition use, documenting 9M55K rockets launched from BM-30 Smerch systems during the Syrian-Russian offensive that began September 30, 2015. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Technical Briefing Note: Cluster Munition Use in the Karabakh ConflictPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Directly supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict use, documenting 9M55K Smerch cluster rockets used by Armenian or Nagorno-Karabakh forces in the 2020 conflict. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:BM-30 Smerch ARMY-2018.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Primary image provenance: 9A52-2 launcher and 9T234-2 transporter-loader of the 9K58/BM-30 Smerch system, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:BM-30 Smerch-5173.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance: 9A52 launcher of the 300 mm 9K58 Smerch system in Technical Museum Togliatti, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20