How does the heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A "Solntsepek" work
During a special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian army used a heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A "Solntsepek". The relevant footage was published by the Russian Defense Ministry. "Newspaper.Ru" tells about this weapon.
It is quite difficult to assess the full effectiveness of the damaging effect of the TOS-1A "Solntsepek" from a long distance - only flashes of flame and clouds of smoke are visible.
In the epicenter of the explosions, there are no flying fragments characteristic of artillery shells and missiles of various types. The 220-mm ammunition of the system creates a cloud of explosive mixture at the drop site and then undermines it. Instant detonation causes a zone of increased pressure, which burns out all the oxygen. It is impossible to hide from defeat either in a trench or in armored vehicles.
The "Sunbeam" is a melee weapon, its range of destruction is up to 10 kilometers. High accuracy of volley firing is achieved by direct aiming of the launcher and automated aiming at the target, which eliminates hitting secondary or non-military objects. With the help of a laser rangefinder, the distance to the target is determined with an accuracy of 4-5 meters.
"The Solntsepek system had a predecessor, the TOS-1 Pinocchio, which was successfully used in Afghanistan, and then in Chechnya. Its greatest effectiveness was achieved in mountainous areas, in narrow gorges, where the detonation of ammunition provided a denser cloud of pressure drop," he told the newspaper.En" military expert, combat veteran, reserve Colonel Gennady Alekhine. - The difficulty was in delivering the flamethrower system itself to impassable areas, because Pinocchio used the base of the T-72 tank as a combat vehicle, and the charging machine was based on the KrAZ car. They didn't go everywhere in the mountains."
Shortly before the start of a special military operation in Ukraine, the influential American expert portal 19FortyFive called the heavy TOS-1 "Pinocchio" and TOS-1A "Solntsepek" "Russia's most powerful non-nuclear weapon capable of inflicting damage in a terrible way."
"It is no coincidence that the Russian heavy flamethrower systems "Pinocchio" and "Solntsepek" were created on the basis of tanks. This is due not only to the range of their warheads, but also to the need for fire support of troops in advanced formations, at a direct shot distance," explained the newspaper.Ru" military expert Vladislav Shurygin. - Accordingly, they themselves fall into the enemy's firing zone and must have armored protection, at least bulletproof and anti-fragmentation, in order to reach the firing line. Now we have seen this when using the "Sunspots" in Ukraine."
In the Russian army, heavy flamethrower systems are in service with parts of the RCBZ (radiation, chemical and biological protection), which is associated with the use of thermobaric ammunition. There are three brigades of district subordination and two regiments of army subordination, as well as a separate flamethrower battalion in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The TOS-1A is exported to other countries as well. This system is most popular in Azerbaijan, Algeria and Saudi Arabia. In Syria, the "Sunbeams" are in service with the Russian contingent, as well as the government army, which used them during the liberation of Palmyra.
To the heavy flamethrower systems of Soviet and Russian production TOS-1 "Pinocchio" and TOS-1A "Solntsepek" at the end of last year, TOS-2 "Tosochka" was added. These systems have entered service with units of the Southern Military District (SE).
According to Dmitry Stefanovich, a researcher at the IMEMO Center for International Security of the Russian Academy of Sciences, this will provide the car with "increased operational mobility."
"The practice of using heavy flamethrower systems has been recognized as successful, they have been used in many conflicts and quite effectively. The wheeled version of the system can improve the working conditions of operators, increase transportability. As for the new missiles - obviously, this is the general direction, the trend of development of multiple launch rocket systems - increasing range and accuracy," the expert concluded.
Victor Sokirko
