Ukrainian Armed Forces Turned a Vintage BMW 7-Series Into a Wicked Rocket Launcher
In what might seem more fitting for a James Bond film or a Mad Max movie, Ukrainian Armed Forces troops have created a BMW 7-Series rocket launcher. A photographer captured the very distinctive-looking sedan engaging Russian invasion forces near Bakhmut.
The camouflaged E38-generation BMW 7-Series team equipped it with a BM-21 122mm Grad Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). It is capable of firing three rockets thanks to some serious creativity by Ukraine’s 7th Battalion, 114th Separate Brigade.
As Autoblog astutely pointed out, “launching a literal rocket from the back of a sedan comes with several logistical challenges.” So how did they do it? The Ukrainian army achieved this feat by laying the tube flat along the roof while in transit. When they reach their launch location, the trunk-mounted MLRS winds out its legs. They then keep the car stable while they fire the rocket.
Mounting a rocket launcher on a BMW sedan has its advantages, and one considerable disadvantage
Naturally, mounting a rocket launcher on a BMW sedan has its advantages. One advantage is the MLRS’s mobility. Its speed allows it to reposition quickly to evade Russian drones and counter-battery fire.
The clever design also has some disadvantages. The BMW’s lack of military-grade armor means it had better be fast. It offers almost no protection to its occupants.
