Until the end of the year, the Russian troops of the Western Military District (ZVO) will receive 20 new TOS-1A multiple rocket launchers and TZM-T transporter-loaders, according to industry representatives.
Russian Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops of the ZVO will receive up to 20 TOS-1A “Solntsepek” heavy flamethrower system equipped with a new multi-fuel diesel engine and upgraded systems of explosive reactive armour (ERA).
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The TOS-1A Solntsepyok, in turn, is an upgraded version of the TOS-1 Buratino heavy flamethrower system which underwent its first combat tests in Afghanistan in 1988-1989.
The main elements of the TOS-1A system include a transport launch canister which contains an unguided rocket equipped with a warhead with a flamethrower-incendiary mixture. There is another option, with a thermobaric warhead which is related to the so-called vacuum ammunition.
The TOS-1A “Solntsepek” is an effective mean of thermobaric and volume-detonating ammunition. When fired, the rockets disperse a cloud of flammable liquid into the air around the target, and then ignite it. High accuracy calculation of firing angle for unguided rockets allocates targets of the impact point on the area in a way that makes it possible to cover a target densely at 6 seconds of full salvo duration. It allows suppressing enemy active actions for a long time period at considerable areas and 100% destruction of unconcealed enemy personnel at the area of 40000 square meters.