The heavy flamethrower system designed to incinerate fortified positions

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as 'Buratino' due to its prominent launcher nose, the Soviet-designed TOS-1 is a specialized multiple rocket launcher. Unlike standard artillery, it utilizes thermobaric warheads to destroy bunkers and armored vehicles, operating at much closer ranges than traditional long-range missile systems.

Developed by KBTM in Omsk during the early 1980s, the TOS-1 was a secret project designed to engage infantry and fortified structures in open terrain. Because of its massive weight and the short range of its 220 mm rockets—originally between 3,500 and 3,800 yards—the system is mounted on a heavy T-72 or T-90 tank chassis to provide necessary protection. The reloading vehicle, known as the TZM, is built on a KrAZ-255B cross-country truck chassis. This support unit is equipped with a crane to facilitate the loading and unloading of the launcher.

The system has seen extensive combat use, from the Soviet–Afghan War in the Panjshir Valley during 1988 and 1989 to the Second Chechen War. In more recent conflicts, it has been deployed by the Iraqi Army in Mosul and by the Syrian Arab Army in various regions like Hama and Palmyra. In the Russo-Ukrainian war, the TOS-1A variant has been a primary target for Ukrainian forces. The system was also observed in eastern Ukraine by the OSCE in 2015. Additionally, Azerbaijan has employed the TOS-1A variant during conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The evolution of the system led to the TOS-1A 'Solntsepyok' (Scorching Sunlight), which entered service in 2003 with an extended range of 6 kilometres. By March 2020, new rocket technology further extended the range to 10 kilometres by reducing the weight of the fuel-air explosive mixture. While the TOS-1 is not part of standard Russian artillery units, it is utilized by the Russian NBC Protection Troops. Saudi Arabian Military Industries has even sought to produce the system locally through a memorandum of understanding. Furthermore, the TOS-1A has been deployed by various forces in Iraq and Syria.

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