by Ukrainian military have installed rocket launch systems on a BMW 7 Series sedan. This E38 model car forgoes armor in favor of speed to unleash a salvo and quickly retreat. This modification appeared after a BMW 6 Series with a machine gun turret was previously showcased.
An Unconventional Battlefield Solution
If you thought converting a regular car into a mobile rocket launcher was a plot only from movies, you were mistaken. Units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Bakhmut have brought this idea to life, transforming a BMW E38 7 Series into an improvised multiple launch rocket system. The lethal armament was installed in place of the trunk.
The result is a remarkable, yet surprisingly effective “car-MLRS,” capable of firing a salvo and disappearing before the enemy can return artillery fire. This strange adaptation is the result of the creative approach of military units that have to find solutions in conditions of a shortage of standard equipment.
Speed Instead of Armor
Instead of relying solely on heavy artillery, the 114th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade converted a civilian vehicle into a means capable of launching rockets at enemy positions and then quickly retreating, avoiding Russian drone surveillance and counter-battery fire. This is a conscious trade-off where military protection and high precision are exchanged for speed, camouflage, and the element of surprise.
Camouflage and Tactics of Use
Images and videos circulating on social media show this unusual hybrid in action. The car is painted in grey-green camouflage, helping it blend with the terrain. The launch tubes are fixed horizontally along the roof while the vehicle moves between firing positions.
When the crew selects a location, they deploy supports from the launcher frame to stabilize the BMW, then use a swivel mechanism to aim the tubes skyward and quickly move to a safe area before firing.
Previous Improvisations
The idea of mobile rocket launchers is not entirely new for Ukraine. Improvised platforms with launch tubes on pickups and light vehicles have been created before to provide infantry units with fire support. Furthermore, this is not the first time a BMW has been used as a weapons platform during the war. Back in 2022, a BMW 6 Series convertible was reported to have been modified with a heavy machine gun in the trunk.
Ukrainian BMW 7 series MLRS firing a 122mm Grad rocket at a Russian target.
In service with Ukraine’s 114th Infantry Brigade:
In a war where every advantage matters, even such a non-standard solution as a BMW with rockets can become part of the fight. It demonstrates an adaptive approach that combines technical knowledge with a drive to find a way out, while also providing the internet with one of the most striking examples of military vehicle modification.
Such initiatives highlight how modern conflict forces a rethinking of traditional approaches to armament. The use of available civilian technologies and their rapid integration into military tactics is becoming one of the characteristic features. This indicates a high level of engineering ingenuity and the ability to improvise under extreme conditions when resources are limited and threats are constantly evolving. Such developments, while they may seem like a temporary measure, often point to future trends in the development of light and mobile weaponry.
