Russian Army unveils a new wheeled version of TOS Heavy Flamethrower Rocket Launcher System based on truck chassis under the name of TOS-2 Tosochka at the Victory Day 2020 military parade rehearsal. The previous versions of Flamethrower vehicles were based on tracked chassis as the TOS-1 and the TOS-1A. Both can fire rockets equipped with incendiary and thermobaric warheads.
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New Russian army TOS-2 Tosochka Flamethrower Rocket Launcher vehicle at Victory Day 2020 military parade rehearsal. (Picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)
A flamethrower vehicle uses rockets equipped with incendiary and thermobaric warheads able to destroy enemy troops from cities, bunkers, and tunnels. These rockets mix fuel and air in a cloud that, when detonated, creates massive heat and pressure effects.
The first Russian flamethrower system TOS-1 was designed and created by the beginning of the 1980s. It represents a complex of combat vehicle - launcher, rockets and transport, and loading vehicle. The TOS-1 flamethrower system is mounted on a T-72 tank tracked chassis with a rotary platform fitted with a container of four layers with a total of 30 x 220 mm rocket launcher tubes, the top layer has six launcher tubes while three bottom layers have six launcher tubes. It has an effective range from 500 to 3,500m.
The TOS-1A was the second flamethrower rocket launcher vehicle developed by the Russian defense industry. It is an improved version of the TOS-1 that enters in service with the Russian army in 2003. The improved TOS system's range has been extended to 6 kilometers and its ballistic computer has been upgraded.
The new TOS 2 Tosochka is based on a military truck chassis Ural-63706-0120 with triple axles at the rear of the chassis. According to our first analysis, the front of the truck is fitted with an armor crew cab that provides protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters.
The rear of the truck chassis is fitted with the launcher weapon station including a container with three rows of eight rocket launcher tubes. According to Russian military sources, it can fire 220mm rockets with thermobaric and smoke-incendiary warheads. The vehicle is also equipped with an onboard computerized fire control system, inertial navigation, and aiming systems.
Rear view of TOS-2 flamethrower vehicle at Victory Day 2020 military parade rehearsal. 5picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)
