“It’s impossible to hide from a volley”: how Solntsepyok self-propelled flamethrowers help solve problems during a special operation

The Russian Ministry of Defense has published footage of the combat work of the calculation of the heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" during a special military operation (SVO).

They show missile launches and the defeat of Ukrainian Armed Forces positions, filmed by a Russian drone video camera.

“The control and adjustment of the hit targets is carried out by the crews of unmanned aerial vehicles, which transmit the results of the hit to the command post in real time.

After completing the combat mission, the crews of the TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" in the shortest possible time carry out a change of combat positions and promptly reload the installations, ”the military department website says.

It is specified that in the special operation, self-propelled flamethrowers are used to destroy fortified long-term strongholds, as well as the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and nationalist battalions.

“TOS-1A operates in combat formations of supported troops from open and closed positions.

The high accuracy of salvo firing at an area target is ensured by direct sighting (aiming) of the launcher at the target, automated guidance to a firing range of several kilometers, ”the Defense Ministry said.

• TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" at the firing position during the NWO

In addition, the use of flamethrowers has a frightening effect on the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and nationalists.

“Those who were lucky enough to stay outside the affected area most often prefer to leave their positions and retreat, clearing the way for Russian military personnel,” the Russian Defense Ministry added.

"Unparalleled"

"Solntsepyok" is included in the arsenal of units of the troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection (RHBZ).

This weapon is a modification of the Soviet flamethrower system TOS-1 "Pinocchio", which was supplied to the USSR army in the 1980s.

Mainly, the Russian complex is distinguished by a reduced number of guides for launching missiles (24 versus 30) and new ammunition capable of hitting the enemy at a distance of up to six km (the maximum firing range of the Pinocchio is 3.6 km).

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, "Solntsepyok" is intended for fire support of infantry, tanks, destruction of open and closed firing positions of the enemy "in various types of offensive and defensive combat, as well as to disable lightly armored vehicles and vehicles."

"Solntsepyok" and transport-loading vehicles (TZM) are mounted on the chassis of the T-72 tank.

Their production is deployed at the sites of Omsk Transport Engineering Plant JSC (part of the Rostec State Corporation).

“TOS-1A is a powerful, unparalleled flamethrower system, the high efficiency of which has been proven more than once during the resolution of major military conflicts.

It is unique for the world market and is not produced anywhere except in Russia,” according to the Rostec website.

The mass of TOS-1A is 44.3 tons, the crew is three people, the maximum firing range is six km, the maximum speed is 60 km / h, the power reserve is 500 km.

Shooting from the "Sun" is carried out by unguided thermobaric-type rockets developed by the Research Institute of Applied Chemistry (Sergiev Posad).

In one volley, the system can release 24 ammunition, covering an area of ​​\u200b\u200bup to 40 thousand square meters with fire.

m.

• Column TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" at the Victory Parade

• RIA News

• © Yulia Zyryanova

A feature of thermobaric projectiles is that they form an aerosol cloud of combustible matter.

After detonation, the fiery mixture is able to “leak” behind any obstacle.

As explained in Rostec, the ammunition fired from the Solntsepyok is undermined near the surface of the target.

The explosive contained in the projectile mixes with air and ignites.

Thus, a volume-detonating explosion occurs.

“The main damaging factors that arose as a result (undermining. -

) - a high-temperature field and a shock wave - spread over an area of ​​​​up to 40 thousand square meters,” Rostec materials say.

In an interview with RT, military expert Yuri Knutov explained that the Sun shells spray a combustible substance in the form of an aerosol and then undermine the resulting gas cloud.

“The aerosol mixture flows into cracks, trenches and pillboxes (long-term firing points. -

), then a volumetric explosion occurs, which destroys engineering structures and destroys enemy manpower,” Knutov added.

According to the expert, the "Sun" is able to disable almost any equipment, but it becomes the most terrible weapon for the infantry, often having a strong demoralizing effect on the enemy's personnel.

“Flamethrowers have been on the battlefield for over 100 years, but still retain their status as a very formidable front-line weapon.

The fact is that fire mixtures are very effective for fighting infantry in bunkers (wooden and earth firing point. -

), bunkers, dugouts, trenches and other, let's say, not completely closed engineering structures, ”Knutov noted.

Despite the fact that the Solntsepyok, like multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), is an area-based weapon, it has high aiming accuracy.

This quality is ensured by an effective fire control system equipped with day and night visual channels, a laser rangefinder, a tilt sensor and a ballistic computer.

“All this allows the crew to open fire on the target in just a minute and a half after its detection,” the Rostec materials say.

• Combat launch from TOS-1A "Solntsepyok"

• © Press Service of the Western Military District

In recent years, the modernization of the "Sun" has been carried out.

Reactive armor, GPS / GLONASS satellite navigation systems, new R-168 radio stations, improved switching and control equipment are installed on combat vehicles.

Based on the experience gained in the Syrian operation, the TOS-2 Tosochka system was created on the basis of the Solntsepyok.

The launcher of the latest flamethrower complex is mounted on the wheeled chassis of a Ural-63706 truck.

The new combat vehicle is lighter, more mobile and does not need to be accompanied by a TZM, as it is capable of loading ammunition using its own lifting mechanism.

"Even armor melts"

As follows from the materials of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the defeat of the enemy by the "Sun" during the special operation is achieved "through the combined impact of fragments, high temperatures and high pressure."

Adjustment of fire and control of target destruction is carried out by means of UAVs.

TOS-1A strikes against APU targets are carried out mainly in the dark.

The Ministry of Defense explains this tactic with security considerations and the desire to make the attack more unexpected for the enemy.

“It is impossible to hide from the Sunshine volley even in trenches and dugouts: after a 200-kilogram projectile hits the target, the thermobaric mixture dissipates in the air and explodes under tremendous pressure, creating a temperature of 3000 degrees.

In such inferno, even steel armor melts, ”the website of the Russian military department reports.

Earlier, in an interview with RT, artillery colonel of the Airborne Forces Andrey Smirnov said that units armed with Solntsepeks are capable of "burning out everything living and inanimate" even in the underground shelters of the Ukrainian army.

A similar point of view was expressed by the candidate of military sciences Sergei Suvorov.

In a RT commentary, the expert said that during the NWO, heavy flamethrower systems are one of the most effective means of destroying various fortifications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“In terms of efficiency, I would compare the thermobaric ammunition of the Solntsepyok with the ODAB-500 volumetric detonating aviation bomb and its modifications.

They have the same, in fact, the principle of operation and the purpose of the defeat - these are field fortifications, engineering facilities located outside the residential area, ”said Suvorov.

In turn, Yuri Knutov noted that the Russian army uses thermobaric weapons only in fortified areas located outside settlements.

This approach allows saving the lives of the civilian population, but objectively slows down the pace of advancement of the Russian Armed Forces in the Donbass.

• TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" during the NWO

• RIA News

• © Press Service of the Russian Ministry of Defense

“A huge number of engineering structures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were built in cities, and, of course, they are not attacked by flamethrowers.

Most often, direct fire artillery works on such targets.

"Solntsepyok" is necessary for the elimination of fortified areas in the Donbass on the way to the cities, and not within their boundaries, ”added Knutov.

In addition, according to the expert, before the TOS-1A enters the firing lines in the Donbass, the Russian army conducts thorough reconnaissance and provides cover for self-propelled flamethrowers from enemy attacks from the ground and air.

“Flamethrowers have a short range, and, of course, every time they go on a combat mission, they find themselves in the zone of fire from tanks, artillery, grenade launchers and mobile missile systems.

If the cover is properly organized, then the Sunshine salvo becomes deadly for the enemy, ”summed up Knutov.