Ukrainian Forces Increasingly Target Russian TOS-1A thermobaric Rocket Launchers with Drones
KHARKIV REGION, UKRAINE – Ukrainian forces are demonstrating a growing ability to neutralize one of russia’s most destructive weapons – the TOS-1A thermobaric rocket launcher – using first-person view (FPV) drones. Recent reports and footage indicate multiple successful attacks on the systems, highlighting a vulnerability despite the weapon’s fearsome reputation.
Operators from a specific Ukrainian regiment reportedly destroyed two TOS-1A systems using FPV drones, as shown in footage published online (here). The video depicts one launcher being struck while stationary and another while attempting to retreat. While the authenticity of the footage hasn’t been independently verified by the kyiv Post, it adds to a pattern of successful drone strikes.
Similar successes were reported in June, with the “Khortytsky wind” brigade announcing the destruction of a TOS-1A, a tank, and several soldiers in the Kharkiv region (link).Earlier, in September 2023, the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade claimed to have disabled another system near the town of Time jar in the Donetsk region (link), hitting it directly during a launch sequence.
The Devastating Power of the TOS-1A
The TOS-1A is a heavy rocket launcher mounted on a tank chassis, designed to deliver thermobaric munitions. These weapons, frequently enough called ”vacuum bombs,” function by first dispersing a flammable aerosol into the air, followed by ignition. This creates an exceptionally powerful explosion characterized by a prolonged pressure wave and extremely high temperatures, consuming oxygen within the blast radius.
These weapons are considered especially devastating in enclosed spaces, creating a lethal combination of pressure, heat, and oxygen deprivation. Explosion temperatures can exceed 2,000 degrees celsius, and the pressure wave lasts longer then conventional explosives, increasing the extent of damage and the risk of severe burns and internal injuries.
Despite Russian claims that the TOS-1A has “no direct equivalent anywhere in the world,” the system possesses significant weaknesses. It is indeed large,heavy,and relatively lightly armored,making it susceptible to anti-tank weapons,grenade launchers,and,increasingly,drones.
Moreover, the thermobaric ammunition itself presents a hazard. In June 2024, ammunition from a TOS-1A exploded in the Russian border town of Šebekino in the Belgorod region, resulting in the deaths of three Russian soldiers, as reported by the Kyiv Post.
The TOS-1A is primarily used against lightly armored targets, infantry in open terrain, and fortifications. The cost of a single system is estimated to range between $6.5 and $15 million.
