TOS-1A is a heavy short-range multi barrel thermobaric rocket launcher.
It is designed to breakthrough the enemy defenses by sheer fire power.
It has been designed to break battlefield deadlocks, by directing concentrated fire
in a target area.
The system is unique by its technical solutions and has no rivals in the world.
In this video, Defense Updates explains WHY RUSSIA’S TOS-1(A) IS CALLED BLAZING SUN ?
In the late 1970s, the idea of a heavy short-range multiple rocket launcher (MRL) came into picture.
The aim was to launch rockets equipped with incendiary and thermobaric warheads.
The combat system consisting of the combat vehicle, rockets, and loading vehicle was
designed and developed in early 1980s and was named TOS-1, remaining a secret effort
for a long time.
The system is intended to engage military personnel, equipment, and buildings, including
fortified buildings.
The combat system is generally used along with infantry and tanks.
The system uses the chassis of the T-72 main battle tank.
The reloading vehicle was built on the chassis of a KrAZ-255B cross-country truck and equipped
with a crane for loading/unloading of the launcher.
In 2001, the improved TOS-1A system entered service.
The system is equipped with 220 mm rockets.
Original system TOS-1, was 30 barreled and had a range of 3.5 km.
The launch vehicle is outfitted with a fire control mechanism that has a ballistic computer,
which performs the required targeting computation by taking input from aiming sight and laser
range finder.
The TKN-3A sight for the commander and a GPK-59 navigation system is also present.
It needs a crew of 3 for operation.
TOS-1A is 24 barreled and has an enhanced range of 6 km.
Its ballistic computer has also been upgraded for better targeting accuracy.
It must be noted that for longer-range fire, Russia has the Smerch MLRS system, capable
of firing between 70-90 km with normal missiles and up to 120 km with the 9M542 increased-range missile.
TOS-1 or TOS-1A are different from traditional handheld or tank-mounted flamethrowers used
during World War II and onwards.
The TOS-1 & TOS-1A are labeled as flamethrower because, in addition to traditional incendiary
rockets, these can also fire thermobaric rockets into enemy-held areas, setting them ablaze.
The thermobaric rockets are different from conventional weapons as for explosion they
use oxygen from atmosphere instead of own oxidizers.
The thermobaric rockets discharge a cloud of chemicals like tetranite into the atmosphere
before the actual detonation.
Through this process thermobaric rockets are capable of generating blasts that have a very
high-temperature as a well as result in shattering shockwave.
Not only is the blast considerably longer and the shockwave significantly hotter and
stronger than a conventional warhead, but all the oxygen in the adjacent area is also
used up, creating a partial vacuum.
This makes them deadly weapons against infantry.
Also its is highly effective when used against entrenched personnel in bunkers and caves.
If the persons present in the blast perimeter somehow survive the initial intense blast,
they die due to suffocation as their lungs rupture in the vacuum afterwards.
The lethal power of TOS 1 is makes it a deadly weapon.
All rockets of the system can be launched within 6 to 12 seconds.
It has the ability to set ablaze areas the size of 4 to 5 football fields in a single salvo.
Because of this , TOS 1 and TOS 1As are also referred as Blazing Sun.
TOS-1s were first used in combat in Afghanistan’s Panjshir valley by the Soviet Union during
the Soviet-Afghan War.
Later, they were used during the Second Chechen War, prominently by the Russian Army during
the Battle of Grozny in 1999.
TOS-1As were first used in combat in Iraq by the Iraqi Army in the recapture of Jurf
Al Sakhar on October 24, 2014 from ISIL forces.
The TOS-1 was used in Syria on October 10, 2015 by Syrian Army forces against rebel forces in Hama.
In 2016 it was used against rebel forces in the Latakia mountains.
It was used again by the Syrian Army in April 2017 in the area of Palmyra , and later that
same month to destroy an ISIS camp.
In September 2016, Russia reveled that it was developing a new rocket for the TOS-1A
with a planned range of 10 km.
The new rocket will have a more efficient fuel air explosive enabling it to have lower
weight and size but still be more destructive.
Consequently the new shell will enable the system to function outside the range of enemy
anti-tank systems.
Minimum range of the new shell will be 1.6 km instead of the earlier 400 m.
So, the shorter range shell will still be in use when the system as to operate in cramped
environment like urban warfare scenario.