For the first time, Russian paratroopers were assigned TOS-1A rocket launchers.

On April 3, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its airborne forces had received the first TOS-1A Solntsepek heavy flamethrower system. The flamethrower system will be used on the battlefield in Ukraine, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

According to the statement of the Russian Ministry of Defense, “in the Saratov region, the Russian military for the first time transferred the TOS-1A Solntsepek heavy flamethrower system to a unit of the airborne troops.”

The first reports of flamethrowers being used by airborne troops have emerged on social media. On April 2, a video went viral on Twitter showing Russian troops attacking Ukrainian positions with the system. According to some reports, the temperature of the projectile when it hits the ground can rise to 3,000 degrees Celsius.

Describing how formidable the system is, Colonel Aleksey Goncharov, head of Russia’s airborne forces, said that the Western arsenal has nothing to compare with the TOS-1A. “It causes panic among the enemy. I am sure that the skillful use of this weapon will bring us closer to victory,” he added.

RIA Novosti 's report stressed that the TOS-1A has achieved great success in the ongoing conflict, destroying the Ukrainian army's entrenched positions. No one can avoid the impact of this weapon, even in the trenches.

For the first time, Russian paratroopers were assigned TOS-1A - 1 rocket launchers — TOS-1A Solntsepyok.

In early March 2023, it was reported that Russian marines were moving towards Ukraine with TOS-1A Solntsepek flamethrower systems. These systems have been used to bombard Ukrainian positions since the beginning of the Russian offensive.

The TOS-1A uses a 220mm thermobaric shell, which creates a massive explosion when it hits its target. Reports accompanied by a video show the TOS-1A creating shockwave domes when it exploded in the forests of Kremennaya.

For its part, the Ukrainian military also claims to have destroyed these flamethrower systems since the first months of the conflict. However, the exact number of TOS-1As destroyed remains unknown.

TOS-1A Solntsepek flamethrower system

TOS-1A Solntsepek is the latest version of the TOS-1 flamethrower system and is essentially a multiple rocket launcher (MBRL) system created and developed by the Omsk Transmash Design Bureau.

The Russian army first officially adopted the TOS-1A in 2001. In December 2017, the Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection (RChBP) signed a contract to purchase 20 TOS-1A Solntsepek rocket launchers. The TOS-1A Solntsepek provides direct fire support to supplement main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles on the battlefield.

For the first time, Russian paratroopers were assigned TOS-1A - 2 rocket launchers — TOS-1A in action in Ukraine.

The chassis of the TOS-1A MBRL system is based on the T-72 main battle tank. The missile launcher is located in the position of the turret while maintaining the overall design. The hull is reinforced with high-strength steel. The vehicle weight is 46,500 kg.

The system has space for a crew of three, with the driver sitting in the center, and the commander and gunner sitting in two small turrets at the rear.

Compared to other similar systems, the TOS-1A Solntsepek has a shorter firing range. However, thanks to its thermobaric pressure and multiple launch capability, it offers the operator great flexibility. The TOS-1A can carry 24 missiles and the TZM-T reloading vehicle supports 48 missiles.

Each missile has a solid-fuel rocket motor, thermobaric explosives and a fuse. It can fire multiple missiles in less than a second, with a range of 400 to 6,000 meters. The system is also highly mobile. It has a top speed of 60 km/h and a range of up to 550 km.

Furthermore, the TOS-1A provides defense against shell fragments and small arms fire. The Type 902G's smoke grenade launchers are mounted on both sides of the hull. The launcher can also be made undetectable by the enemy thanks to its engine smoke generation system.

The deployment of these powerful machines demonstrates Russia's determination in the battle for control of Bakhmut, but the outcome on the battlefield will depend on many other factors.

Le Hung (Source: Eurasian Times)

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