The Libyan National Army (LNA) publicly unveiled Russian-supplied BM-30 Smerch 300mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) during a military parade in Benghazi. Marking the 11th anniversary of Operation Al-Karama, a campaign launched in 2014 by the LNA against Islamist factions in eastern Libya, this parade included several armored vehicles, air defense systems, and artillery units not previously seen in public, many of which are of Russian origin.
Among the artillery platforms revealed during the event was the BM-30 Smerch, a 300mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s. The Smerch system is mounted on a MAZ-543M 8×8 truck chassis and is capable of launching twelve rockets within 38 seconds. Each rocket has a maximum range of 90 kilometers, depending on the warhead type, and is designed to deliver various munitions, including high-explosive fragmentation, thermobaric, anti-tank submunitions, and anti-personnel cluster warheads. The system is typically operated with a battery-level fire control infrastructure, which includes a command vehicle and resupply trucks. It is equipped with automated targeting and satellite navigation systems, allowing for improved accuracy and reduced response time between detection and launch. This combination of mobility, range, and payload flexibility positions the Smerch as one of the most powerful conventional artillery systems currently in service.