KATHMANDU: Ukrainian forces have converted a BMW 7-Series sedan into a makeshift rocket launcher for battlefield use near Bakhmut city, Ukraine.
Images shared on social media show a BMW E38 7-Series fitted with rocket launch tubes mounted at the rear, turning the luxury sedan into a light multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS). The modified vehicle is being used by Ukraine’s 114th Territorial Defense Brigade.
According to reports, the car is used for short, rapid attacks. The launcher fires rockets and then quickly leaves the area to avoid detection by Russian drones and counter-fire. The setup prioritizes speed and mobility instead of armor protection.
The rocket tubes are mounted on a simple frame, and stabilizing legs are deployed before firing. After launching, the crew moves away immediately. The car is painted in muted colors to blend into its surroundings.
This is not the first time civilian vehicles have been adapted for combat use in Ukraine. Earlier in the conflict, pickup trucks and light vehicles were modified to carry rocket launchers for short-range support.
BMW vehicles have also appeared before in similar roles. In 2022, a BMW 6-Series convertible was seen modified with a mounted machine gun.
The BMW 7-Series rocket launcher highlights how Ukrainian forces are using available civilian vehicles to create low-cost, mobile weapons in response to equipment shortages during the ongoing conflict.
