Russian defence conglomerate Rostec is creating a successor to the TOS-1A 220 millimetre thermobaric rocket artillery system, following the numerous consideration the asset’s fight efficiency within the Ukrainian theatre has gained. Rostec Industrial Director of Weapon Techniques Bekhan Ozdoev acknowledged on April 8 confirmed that the primary prototype of the system had already been constructed, with the Omsktransmash manufacturing unit having already filed an utility to register the trademark TOS-3 ‘Dragon’ – the designation of the brand new system. Ozdoev revealed relating to the system’s ongoing growth: “For instance, everybody is aware of the TOS-1 Solntsepyok and TOS-2 Tosochka heavy flamethrower methods. These are highly effective weapons which have carried out nicely within the particular army operation zone. We are actually engaged on the creation of a brand new TOS-3 heavy flamethrower system. A promising automobile on a tracked base will probably be outfitted with a brand new launcher. This may improve the firing vary and use new ammunition.”
The TOS-1A’s capabilities have notably been improved important over time, with CEO of the Sign Analysis Institute Vladimir Pimenov having revealed shortly earlier than Director Ozdoev’s assertion {that a} new navigation system had “improved working accuracy to a couple meters.” “CBR [Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection] troops requested whether or not we’ve analysis options for higher flexibility of Solntsepyok operation at firing positions. We supplied our positioning system, which makes it potential to scale back fight time at a firing place with out the fight automobile leaving by a crew and a commander,” he elaborated. The TOS-1A’s thermobaric ammunition works by dispersing a gaseous cloud of chemical compounds into the air that are then detonated by a vacuum explosive, releasing a excessive stress shock wave that sucks air out of confined areas with super power. That is optimum for neutralising enemy floor forces in fortified positions, and might destroy buildings, caves, trenches and different fortifications whereas rupturing the lungs of all current within the neighborhood. The system has gained extra consideration within the Ukrainian theatre the arguably some other asset within the Russian floor forces, and has been supplemented by rising use of excessive payload thermobaric glide bombs such because the ODAB-500 dropped by Russian fighters to clear Ukrainian and allied forces out of fortified positions.
