Ukrainian Army Mounts a Rocket Launcher on a BMW 7 Series

This E38 7-series-turned-rocket launcher is the perfect example of the old adage—desperate times call for desperate measures. What’s happening between Ukraine and Russia shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone at this point. Both sides have been at it for quite a while, and they have significantly drained their available resources. Given the situation, the Ukrainian military had to get creative with their artillery, so this time they chose a Bavarian luxury sedan for frontline duties.

How good is the makeshift combat vehicle, you ask? At the back of this vintage BMW 7-series sits a Soviet-designed BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). Instead of fitting shopping bags, the trunk of this E38 is repurposed to fire three 122-mm rockets. The 7th Battalion, 114th Separate Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces transformed this old E38 BMW into what is essentially the ultimate fighting machine.

That’s not all. Being significantly lighter than a conventional 14-ton MLRS launch vehicle, this E38 can scamper along the battlefield like a stabbed rat. Of course, this does bring along disadvantages. For starters, it doesn’t have all the fancy armor (hence the lighter weight), so protection, should the worst happen, is virtually non-existent. But it does sport a grey-green paint job that allows it to blend in. Although camouflage is effective, it isn’t necessarily missile-proof, especially when the vehicle itself resembles an improvised BMW with a massive rocket up its derriere.

Ukrainian BMW 7 series MLRS firing a 122mm Grad rocket at a Russian target. pic.twitter.com/0i9AQ9wq4Y

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) December 12, 2025

Also, you have to realize that launching a literal rocket from the back of a sedan comes with several logistical challenges. But the military has thought of this. They lay the tube flat along the roof while in transit, and once they reach the desired location, the BMW’s makeshift trunk-mounted MLRS deploys its wind-out legs to keep the car stable as the projectile is launched.

To their credit, the Ukrainian military has done a decent job, at least from what we can tell with the photos available. Then again, things aren’t as rosy as what we have at home, so if you’re living in that part of the world and somehow reading this—thank you, but more importantly, stay safe!