Ukrainian Forces Increasinglyโค Target Russian TOS-1A thermobaric Rocket Launchers with Drones
KHARKIV REGION,โค UKRAINE – โฃ Ukrainian forces areโค demonstrating a growing ability to neutralize one of russia’s most destructive weapons – the TOS-1Aโ thermobaric rocket launcher – using first-personโฃ view โข(FPV) drones. Recent reports and footageโ indicate multiple successful attacks on the systems, highlighting a vulnerability despite theโ weapon’s fearsomeโ reputation.
Operators from a specific Ukrainian regiment reportedly destroyed two TOS-1A systems using โFPV drones, asโค shown in footage published online (here). The video depicts one launcher beingโข struckโค while stationary and another while attempting to retreat. While the authenticity โคof the footage hasn’t been โindependently verified by the kyiv Post, it adds โฃtoโข 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 severalโข soldiers in the โKharkiv region (link).Earlier, in Septemberโค 2023, the 24th Separateโ Mechanized Brigadeโข claimed to have disabled another system near the town of Time jar in theโ Donetsk region (link), โขhitting it directly during a launch sequence.
The Devastating Power of the TOS-1A
The TOS-1A is a heavy rocket launcherโฃ mounted on โa tank chassis,โ designed toโฃ deliver thermobaric munitions. These weapons, frequently enough called โ”vacuum bombs,” function by first dispersing a flammable aerosol intoโ the air,โ followed by ignition. This creates anโค exceptionally โคpowerful explosion characterizedโ by a prolonged pressure wave and extremely high temperatures, consuming oxygen within the blast radius.
These weaponsโค are โconsidered especially devastating โinโ enclosed spaces, creating a lethal โcombination of pressure, heat, and oxygen deprivation. Explosion temperatures can exceed โฃ2,000 โdegrees celsius, โฃand the pressure wave lasts โคlonger then conventionalโ explosives, increasing โขthe extent of damage and โthe risk of severe burns and internalโ injuries.
Despite Russian claims that โคthe TOS-1A has “no direct equivalent anywhere in โthe world,” the โคsystem possesses โsignificant weaknesses. It is indeed large,heavy,and relatively โlightly armored,making it susceptible to anti-tank weapons,grenade launchers,and,increasingly,drones. โค
Moreover, the thermobaric ammunition โขitself presents a hazard. In Juneโข 2024, ammunition from a TOS-1A exploded in the Russian border town of ล ebekino in theโ Belgorod region, resulting โฃin the deaths of three โคRussianโ soldiers, as reported by โขthe Kyiv Post.
The TOS-1A โฃis primarily used against lightly armored targets, โฃinfantry in openโ terrain, and fortifications. The cost ofโ a single system is estimated to range between $6.5 โand $15 โmillion.