TOS-1

TOS-1 (Russian: 1 , English: Heavy Flamethrower System) is a Soviet 220mm 30-barrel (original system, Ob.634 or TOS1M) or 24-barrel (Ob.634B or TOS-1A) multiple rocket
launcher and thermobaric weapon mounted on a T-72
tank chassis. TOS-1 was designed for defeating enemy
personnel in fortications, in open country, and in lightly
armoured vehicles and transport. First combat tests took
place in 19881989 in the Panjshir Valley during the
Soviet war in Afghanistan. The TOS-1 was shown for
the rst time in public in 1999 in Omsk.

prominently used in the Battle of Grozny in 1999 by the

Russian Army.
TOS-1As were rst used in combat in Iraq in the recapture of Jurf Al Sakhar on October 24, 2014 from ISIL
forces.[3]
The OSCE reported in September 2015 that the TOS-1
was sighted in a rebel training area in eastern Ukraine.[4]
TOS-1 was used in Syria on October 10, 2015 by Syrian
Army forces against rebel forces in Hama.

Azerbaijan used the TOS-1A against the NagornoThe TOS-1 is not used by the artillery units of the Karabakh Defense Army on April 4, 2016.[5]
Russian Armed Forces but is found in NBC defense units
(Russian: a , ()).[2]

3 System description

The TOS-1A Solntsepyok (Russian: , English: Blazing sun or Sunheat) system consists of the following items:[6][7]

Development

The idea of a heavy short-range MLRS to launch rockets equipped with incendiary and thermobaric warheads
arose in the late 1970s. The combat system consisting of
the combat vehicle, rockets, and loading vehicle was developed in early 1980s at KBTM in Omsk and was named
TOS-1, remaining a secret development for a long time.

The combat vehicle BM-1 (rus. )

(Ob.634B) based on a modied T-72A chassis and
tted with a rotating launch system for 24 unguided
thermobaric rockets. All rockets can be launched
within 6 to 12 seconds. The launch vehicle is
equipped with a re control system with a ballistic
computer, aiming sight and 1D14 laser range nder.
The other standard equipment consists of a TKN3A sight for the commander, a GPK-59 navigation
system, an R-163-50U radio station, an R-174 intercom and a 902G smoke grenade launcher with
four barrels. The 3-man crew is armed with one
AKS-74, one RPKS-74, three RPG-26s, and 10 F1 hand grenades. The BM-1 is tted with the same
equipment as the T-72 tank (NBC protection, reghting, observation etc.).

The TOS-1 is intended to engage military personnel,

equipment, and buildings, including fortied constructions. The combat vehicle acts within the combat order
of infantry and tanks. The large mass of the launcher and
the need for a high-level of protection (due to the relatively short range of 3,500 m (11,500 ft)) helped determine the use of the chassis of the T-72 main battle tank.
The TZM reloading vehicle was built on the chassis of
a KrAZ-255B cross-country truck and equipped with a
crane for loading/unloading of the launcher.
In 2001, the improved TOS-1A system entered service.
The improved systems range has been extended to 6 kilometers and its ballistic computer has been upgraded.

Two TZM-T (rus. -

) (Ob.563) re-supply vehicles, tted with a
10 kN crane. Each vehicle carries 2x12 spare rockets and 400 litres of fuel for the BM-1 and has a
combat weigh of 39 t (86,000 lb). The TZM-T has a
crew of three, armed with two AKS-74s, one RPKS74, ve RPG-26s, and 10 F-1 hand grenades.

The nickname Buratino originates with the name of the

hero of a Russian retelling of the Pinocchio tale (by
Alexey Tolstoy), given the perception of the big nose
of the launcher.

A set of rockets NURS (rus.

)
MO.1.01.04
and
MO.1.01.04M. These are 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
and 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) long and weigh 173 kg (381
lb) and 217 kg (478 lb) respectively. The original

Combat history

TOS-1s were rst used in combat in Afghanistans

Panjshir valley by the Soviet Union. Later, they were
1

6
rocket for the TOS-1A had a range of only 2,700
m (8,900 ft), but the improved version extends the
range to 6,000 m (20,000 ft).

EXTERNAL LINKS

[5] For the rst time Azerbaijan has used heavy

amethrower systems. AZERI DAILY. Retrieved 4
April 2016.
[6] http://www.military-today.com/artillery/tos_1a.htm

Operators

[7] " 1". Retrieved

23 December 2014.
[8] :
1 90 (in Russian). Retrieved 23 December 2014.
[9] APA Russia to deliver another batch of TOS-1A heavy
amethrowers to Azerbaijan in the near future. Retrieved
23 December 2014.
[10] http://www.janes.com/article/58187/
russia-details-usd200-million-arms-sale-to-armenia
[11] bmpd. Retrieved 23 December 2014.

Map with TOS-1 operators in blue

4.1

Current operators

Azerbaijan 18[8][9]

4.2

Armenia - Part of Russian-Armenian arms

deal[10]
Iraq 4[11]
Kazakhstan 3

[12]

Novorossiya 1. The OSCE reported in

September 2015 that the TOS-1 was sighted in a
rebel training area in eastern Ukraine.[13]
Russia ~15[14]
Syria 1+

[15]

Former operators
Soviet Union Passed on to successor states.

References

[1] Iraq: See the EXPLOSIVE Russian repower helping

Iraqi forces ght IS. YouTube. Retrieved 23 December
2014.
[2] http://www.otvaga2004.narod.ru/otvaga2004/
caleidoscope/flamethrowers_1.htm Archived February
14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
[3] Salami, Jassem Al. Led by an Armored Bulldozer, Shia
Militia Fought to Restore Their Credibility. War is Boring. Medium.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
[4] Ukraine rebels have powerful new Russian-made rockets
OSCE

[12] TOS-1 multiple rocket launcher. Bubblews. Retrieved

23 December 2014.
[13] Ukraine rebels have powerful new Russian-made rockets
OSCE
[14] Eugene Yanko, Copyright 1997 info@warfare.ru.
TOS-1 Buratino Flamethrower | Russian Arms, Military
Technology, Analysis of Russias Military Forces. Warfare.ru. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
[15] Hier zerstrt Putins Hllenkanone eine Festung der Rebellen (in German). STERN.de. Retrieved 2 February
2016.

6 External links
Video of the TOS-1 in action (Russian)
GlobalSecurity prole
FAS prole
TOS-1A article on Military Today
TOS-1 article on Military Today
Detailed article on Rbase (Russian)
V. Kuzmins photo blog about the 2010 Victory Parade in Moscow (Russian)

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

7.1

Text

TOS-1 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOS-1?oldid=720488304 Contributors: Cherkash, Saltine, PBP, DocWatson42, Everyking,

Mzajac, Jakew, ^demon, GregorB, Jno, Koavf, Benlisquare, Brandmeister (old), Scott Adler, Mikus, Attilios, Serg3d2, Scott Paeth, Hibernian, Rcbutcher, Andrew c, Rheo1905, MkhitarSparapet, Beetstra, Andrwsc, J Milburn, SuperTank17, AndrewHowse, Nabokov, Aldis90,
BetacommandBot, Thijs!bot, Dendirrek, HanzoHattori, Alex Spade, EtienneDolet, Raoulduke47, McSly, Idioma-bot, Nigel Ish, VolkovBot,
Senalba, CheloVechek, Idsnowdog, Explicit, XLinkBot, Neutrino 1, Dave1185, Addbot, Nohomers48, Dmitry Rozhkov, Luckas-bot,
Yobot, AnomieBOT, Materialscientist, High Contrast, Xqbot, Coltsfan, Mark Schierbecker, Kyng, D'ohBot, Degen Earthfast, Glebtor, Unmaker, Jurryaany, Dcirovic, Tom120, Sirbudwise, Thine Antique Pen, Catlemur, Kamransj, BG19bot, Reallyfastcar, Glevum, Qbli2mHd,
Cyberbot II, Sebastienroblin, FalconAzeri, Arthur goes shopping, Wikoped, Monkbot, Hrqa, Ceosad, The Holm, Augustabreeze, XANTHO
GENOS, Agulani, SourCream&Onion, KA995, Soyev, Retaurn and Anonymous: 59

7.2

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7.3

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