Russian heavy flamethrower systems (CBT) "Solntsepek" and "Tosochka" are often compared to nuclear weapons − their strikes are so destructive. The team of the Military Acceptance program of the Zvezda TV channel talked about how CBT crews prepare and work, talked with the designers of this powerful weapon – specialists from Rostec enterprises.
"The sun": unbearable longing for the enemy
The first hero of the program was the TOS-1A "Solntsepek", a machine that has been in service since 2001 and first manifested itself in the North Caucasus. But there was, one might say, a pen test, and the SVO zone is the first truly large battlefield of this system.
In the footage of the "Military acceptance", "Solntsepek" is accompanied by a pickup truck with a reconnaissance and fire cover group, a truck and an infantry fighting vehicle working to complete a combat mission in one bundle. Scouts use a drone to explore the area, choosing a suitable position for the TOS-1A, and most often they also point the system at the target.
Then the crew proceeds to load the shells into the guides, the so-called package. And if in the standard version the shells are placed in the TOS-1A with the help of a special transport-loading machine (TZM), then the famous soldier's ingenuity worked in the conditions of its own: 217-kilogram shells are loaded manually from an ordinary truck using ordinary standard belts. By the way, downloading a full CBT-1A in this way turns out even faster − in 20 minutes versus 45 minutes with the use of special equipment. In addition, TZM based on the T-72 tank is an extra unmasking feature, and with the help of KAMAZ and manual labor, everything can be done faster and more imperceptibly.
According to the instructor of the center for training troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection (RCBZ), to which heavy flamethrower systems are assigned, the task of the crew of the Solntsepek is to hit the target and quickly leave the position, saving the car and people. Thanks to the updated systems, the machine's operating time in the firing position is less than a minute. TOS-1A arrives at the place, aims at the target, makes a sighting shot. Then an adjustment is made, the machine works out on the target and leaves the firing position. The targeting provides almost sniper accuracy of destruction, despite the fact that the TOS-1A was designed to work on squares.
Tosochka: the "incendiary" novelty of the Russian army
The second hero of the "Military Acceptance" was the TOS-2 Tosochka, a car first presented to the general public at the 2020 Victory Day Parade. For her, SVO is the beginning of a career, the first combat use, the first mass combat use, the first "childhood illnesses". But the firstborn has already become a favorite of the military − Tosochka has dozens of strongholds taken.
According to the commander of the flamethrower group with the call sign "Koster", a participant in the SVO from the first days, the "Sun" on a tracked base with greater cross-country ability is used in more difficult areas. And if you need to throw CBT over long distances, including along the highway, then a wheeled "Tosochka" is used.
The deployment time of CBT-2 is less than a minute. It is unique in that it can work with both TOS-1A projectiles and its own. The firing range of the new machine has been increased significantly, the area and effectiveness of the damage have increased.
In particular, thanks to the support of the CBT, the counteroffensive of Ukrainian troops was stopped in 2023. The fire systems hampered the enemy's actions with their attacks, ensuring the stability of the positions of the Russian troops. As the head of the RCBZ troop training center said, the first use of domestic CBT happened almost in the early days of its operation. On February 27, 2022, a Russian column was ambushed, and CBT was used to almost completely burn out an enemy stronghold in a forest belt 50-70 m wide and about 1 km long.
Rostec "gives you a light"
Heavy flamethrower systems have been produced at Omsktransmash, an enterprise within the Uralvagonzavod concern of the Rostec State Corporation, since the time of the Afghan War. And the Solntsepek navigation equipment, which, excluding the human factor, automatically calculates firing tasks, was developed at the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute Signal (part of the Rostec High-Precision Complexes holding).
According to Vladimir Pimenov, the general director of the enterprise, they proposed an orientation system for the TOS-1A, which allows reducing the time of combat operation in a firing position without leaving the crew and commander of the combat vehicle itself during the predicted counter-battery struggle of the enemy. This allows the crew to perform a combat mission from a firing position in no more than 3-4 minutes.
TOS-1A "Solntsepek". Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
In addition, the accuracy of shooting has increased − the error of the TOS-1A is several meters. According to the developer, there are different tactics for using the systems: as a whole package, and individual shells, and paired, and four, etc. This allows you to achieve maximum effect and maximum accuracy with minimal ammunition consumption.
Since the beginning of the special military operation, the CBT has been updated. Additional protection of the sides appeared on the Solntsepek, withstanding hits from RPGs, ATGM, and FPV drones with shaped projectiles. Protection of the front tracks, protection of hydraulic pipes is installed. The most noticeable new thing of the "Solntsepek" is the grilles on the package with shells, the so−called barbecue. He protects the car from being hit by an enemy UAV.
Tosochka is also constantly being finalized, and in two years a lot of changes have been made − the developers listen to the comments and wishes of the military. The forces of the enemy's special units are currently conducting a real hunt for CBT detachments, because Russian heavy fire systems cause enormous damage to manpower and armored vehicles.
