The Russian Ministry of Defence published footage of the combat use of the newest heavy flamethrower system TOS-2 "Tosochka". In the video distributed by the agency, the wheeled system quickly moves to a firing position, automation aims the weapon in seconds, and after a volley, thermobaric projectiles turn enemy fortifications into a fiery mess.
"Tosochka" replaced the legendary "Solntsepyok" and "Buratino". Unlike its tracked predecessors, the new system is based on the "Ural-63706" wheeled chassis with a 6x6 wheel arrangement, which makes it lighter and more mobile. The armored cabin protects the crew, and the wheels allow it to move confidently off-road.
The main advantage of TOS-2 is its firing range, which reaches 15–20 kilometers. This is almost twice as much as "Solntsepyok", and allows "Tosochka" to operate outside the range of enemy counter-battery fire. The system uses 220 mm thermobaric ammunition. Their principle of operation is based on the dispersion of an aerosol cloud with subsequent detonation. The temperature at the epicenter exceeds 2000 degrees, and due to oxygen depletion and a sharp pressure drop, a vacuum effect occurs, which affects personnel even in bunkers and dugouts.
The automated fire control system aims the weapon in a matter of seconds. The built-in crane-manipulator allows the crew to reload ammunition independently, without the accompaniment of a separate vehicle. Rostec emphasizes: after a "Tosochka" strike, assault teams have nothing left to do at the destroyed position.
Read more on the topic:
- It hits like a sledgehammer and envelops like an octopus: the qualities of "Solntsepyok" are named
- Under the Cover of Night: "Tochka" Thermobaric Salvo Clears Stronghold at 20 km
- The thermobaric salvo of the Solntsepyok covered an area the size of a football field: six rockets with a deviation of less than 100 meters