Russian TOS-1A MLRS flamethrower in service with Algerian army


A video footage from Algerian Television (Algeria 1 TV) has showed the use of the Russian-made TOS-1A Heavy flamethrower system by the Algerian armed forces during a military exercise, on May 12, 2018. According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) arms trade database, Algeria has purchased 4 TOS-1A from Russia in 2015.


Russian TOS 1A MLRS flamethrower in service with Algerian army 925 001
Print screen of TOS-1A from video footage of military exercise in eastern Algeria. (Source Algeria 1 TV)


Many other foreign customers have also shown interest in the TOS-1A heavy flamethrower according to Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport’s press office.

The name flamethrower comes from the use of munitions releasing a large cloud of flammable gas with massive explosions. The TOS-1A uses two types of warheads, incendiary and thermobaric.

As was reported in the press, the Syrian government troops started using Russian-made TOS-1A flamethrower systems. There have been no official statements about the TOS-1A’s delivery to Syria.

The idea of a heavy short-range MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) able to launch rockets equipped with incendiary and thermobaric warheads was started in the late 1970s, with first development in in early 1980s at KBTM in Omsk and was named TOS-1. It was shown for the first time in public in 1999 in Omsk. In 2001, the improved TOS-1A system entered service.

The TOS-1A is based on a T-72 MBT (Main Battle Tank) tracked chassis. The launch system of TOS-1A consists of 24 launch tubes of 220 mm caliber mounted at the centre of the hull which has a traverse of 360°.

The TOS-1A has the capability to launch multiple rockets within half a second. The rockets can be fired within the range between 400 m and 6,000 m.