Tornado-S, also known as the 9K515 MLRS, is Russia's modernized 300 mm successor to the BM-30 Smerch, combining a 12-tube wheeled launcher, automated fire-control, Smerch rocket compatibility, and guided 300 mm rockets for longer-range precision fires. Russian and independent reporting tie it to combat use in Syria in 2017 and to documented Russian employment and losses in Ukraine from 2022 onward.
ARES documented 9M54-series Tornado-S remnants in Pokrovsk on 4 March 2022, Janes described 9M544 and 9M549 guided rockets fired by Russian Tornado-S systems in Ukraine, ZALA attributed a June 2026 Kharkiv-region strike to a Russian Tornado-S crew, and Ukrainian military-attributed reporting documented Russian Tornado-S losses and strikes in 2026.
Role detailsRussian reporting in December 2017 said Tornado-S was used during combat operations in Syria.
Role detailsTornado-S is the 9K515 system family; the 9A54 designation identifies the combat vehicle, while Tornado-C is the export-version name used by Rosoboronexport.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9A54 combat vehicle | Launcher vehicle | Rosoboronexport identifies 9A54 as the combat vehicle in the 9K515 system. Sources: 300mm 9K515 MLRS |
The 9K515 keeps the 300 mm Smerch family connection while adding newer guided rockets and automated fire-control features.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Predecessor 300 mm launcher family | Rosoboronexport describes Tornado-S as developed from the BM-30 Smerch and able to fire all Smerch rocket projectiles. Sources: 300mm 9K515 MLRS |
Tornado-S compatibility connects the launcher to 300 mm Smerch-family rockets that remain distinct munitions.
| Ammunition | Ammunition type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 300 mm thermobaric rocket | Army Recognition lists the 9M529 thermobaric rocket among the unguided 300 mm rockets fired by Tornado-S. Sources: Tornado-S 9K515 MLRS |
 | 300 mm extended-range high-explosive rocket | Rosoboronexport lists 9M542 as 300 mm extended-range Smerch ammunition, while its 9K515 page says Tornado-S can fire all 9K58 Smerch rocket projectiles. Sources: Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog, 300mm 9K515 MLRS |
 | 300 mm high-explosive fragmentation rocket | Rosoboronexport lists 9M528 as 300 mm high-explosive Smerch ammunition, and the 9K515 page supports Tornado-S compatibility with the Smerch projectile set. Sources: Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog, 300mm 9K515 MLRS |
 | 300 mm cumulative-fragmentation submunition rocket | Rosoboronexport lists 9M531 as a 300 mm cumulative-fragmentation Smerch rocket; Tornado-S compatibility with all 9K58 Smerch rocket projectiles links it to the launcher family. Sources: Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog, 300mm 9K515 MLRS |
 | 300 mm cumulative-fragmentation submunition rocket | Rosoboronexport lists 9M55K5 as a 300 mm Smerch cassette-warhead rocket with 3B30 submunitions; the 9K515 page supports Tornado-S compatibility with Smerch rocket projectiles. Sources: Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog, 300mm 9K515 MLRS |
 | 300 mm cargo rocket | Rosoboronexport's 9K515 page supports Tornado-S compatibility with the 9K58 Smerch projectile family that includes the cataloged 9M55K cargo rocket. Sources: 300mm 9K515 MLRS |
| 300 mm self-guided anti-armor submunition rocket | Army Recognition lists 9M55K1 among the unguided rocket family available to Tornado-S, and Rosoboronexport supports the Smerch-projectile compatibility basis. Sources: Tornado-S 9K515 MLRS, 300mm 9K515 MLRS |
 | 300 mm remote mine-laying rocket | Army Recognition lists 9M55K4 among the 300 mm unguided rockets associated with Tornado-S, placing the mine-laying round in the compatible Smerch-family set. Sources: Tornado-S 9K515 MLRS |
 | 300 mm self-guiding submunition rocket | Army Recognition lists 9M55K6 among the 300 mm unguided rockets for the Tornado-S family, separate from the newer guided 9M544 and 9M549 rounds. Sources: Tornado-S 9K515 MLRS |
 | 300 mm fragmentation submunition rocket | Army Recognition lists 9M525 in Tornado-S ammunition coverage, and Rosoboronexport lists it as 300 mm Smerch ammunition. Sources: Tornado-S 9K515 MLRS, Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog |
 | 300 mm self-guiding submunition rocket | Army Recognition lists 9M533 among Tornado-S-compatible unguided rockets, while Rosoboronexport lists it inside the 300 mm Smerch ammunition catalog. Sources: Tornado-S 9K515 MLRS, Rosoboronexport 300 mm ammunition catalog |
Tornado-S keeps the Smerch 300 mm projectile family in service while adding guided rockets with longer-range precision-fire roles.
| Rocket or family | Role | Documented point |
|---|---|---|
| 9M544 guided rocket | Guided fragmentation-submunition round | Janes describes 9M544 as a guided rocket fired by Russian Tornado-S systems in Ukraine; Rosoboronexport gives the family a range up to 120 km. |
| 9M549 guided rocket | Guided fragmentation-submunition round | Janes describes 9M549 as a guided rocket fired by Russian Tornado-S systems in Ukraine. |
| Smerch-family rockets | Legacy 300 mm ammunition | Rosoboronexport says 9K515 can fire all Smerch rocket projectiles. |
| Thermobaric 300 mm rocket | Army Recognition lists 9M529 among the unguided rockets compatible with Tornado-S. |
Sources: 300mm 9K515 MLRS; Tornado-S 9K515 MLRS; Ukraine conflict: Russian forces employ guided rockets.
TASS reported that Tornado-S was approved for service in July-August 2016 and that the army would begin receiving the system in 2017.
Sources: Russian army to get Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers in 2017
Russian reporting said Tornado-S had been used during combat operations in Syria in late 2017.
Sources: Field tests of the Tornado-S MLRS were conducted in Syria
Army Recognition reported that the Russian army ordered its first Tornado-S launchers in summer 2019.
Sources: Tornado-S 9K515 MLRS
Rostec said Tornado-S had received its promotional passport for the international market and highlighted 300 mm guided missiles with range up to 120 km.
Sources: Rostec launches Tornado-S into the international market
ARES documented 9M54-series Tornado-S remnants in Ukraine, and LB.ua reported a Tornado-S strike on Pokrovsk the same day.
Sources: Russian 9M54-series cargo missile documented in Ukraine (2022), Russian troops fired at Pokrovsk with Tornado-S cluster shells
Ukrainska Pravda and Defense Express reported that Ukrainian drone forces destroyed a Russian Tornado-S in temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast while it was at a combat position.
Sources: Ukrainian drones destroy Russian Tornado-S MLRS in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian Forces Destroy Russian Tornado-S MLRS as It Fires
The Kyiv Independent reported Ukraine's General Staff statement that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system in occupied Melitopol, with damage still being assessed.
Sources: Russian Tornado-S system struck in occupied Melitopol
ZALA reported that a Russian Sever group Tornado-S crew fired rocket projectiles in Kharkiv region using ZALA Z-16 reconnaissance support for adjustment and monitoring.
Sources: Tornado-S supported by ZALA Z-16 in Kharkiv region
