Serial production of the new TOS-3 "Dragon" flamethrower systems has started at the Omsktransmash enterprise. This was reported by the "Tekhnosfera Rossiya" publication.
Initially, the combat vehicles were developed on the basis of T-72B3 tanks, but later versions appeared on the chassis of gas turbine T-80s.
So far, regular deliveries of TOS-3 to the troops have not been reported, only photos were published during the demonstration of one of the first vehicles at an exhibition dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the 1st Guards Mobile NBC Protection Brigade in June 2024.
The "Dragon" has an autonomous power unit in the rear, which is connected when the main engine is not running. This saves fuel and preserves the life of the power plant.
It is worth noting that the T-80s have proven themselves to be maneuverable and high-speed vehicles with less acoustic signature, which allows them to literally "sneak up" on the enemy.