The TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system Solntsepyok carried out a combat mission to strike a fortified position. The vehicle, built on the chassis of the T-72A tank, used unguided rockets with a thermobaric warhead. The first ranging shot landed with a deviation of less than 100 meters; after minimal adjustment, a salvo of six munitions followed. The affected area is comparable to a football field.
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The TOS-1A is normally equipped with a pack of 30 launch tubes for 220-mm rockets. After detonation, the thermobaric munition forms a cloud of aerosol mixture followed by a volumetric explosion, creating a zone of total destruction through oxygen burnout and a sharp pressure spike. The ammunition load also includes smoke-incendiary rockets for laying smoke screens.
The combat mission was conducted in an area of high unmanned aerial vehicle activity. The vehicle is fitted with an anti-drone lattice superstructure capable of withstanding FPV drone hits without critical damage to the systems and crew. At the firing position, the Solntsepyok was covered by riflemen from mobile fire groups, an electronic warfare system, and military air defence assets. After completing the mission, the launcher was returned to travel position, and the vehicle immediately left the firing position.
Taken together, the characteristics of the TOS-1A make it the most powerful means of fire support in its class among those permitted by international conventions. The combination of a thermobaric munition, tank-grade armor protection, and layered drone cover allows the system to be used in conditions of high battlefield saturation with drones while maintaining the effectiveness of strikes against fortified targets