Russia Unveils New ТОS-3 Dragon Thermobaric Rocket Launcher.

On June 3, 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video showcasing the brand-new ТОS-3 Dragon Thermobaric Rocket Launcher. The first photos and videos of this new flamethrower system appeared online.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The ТОS-3 Dragon is a Russian Thermobaric Rocket Launcher. (Picture source: Russian MoD)

After the wheeled ТОS-2 flamethrower system, the Russian military decided to return to a tracked chassis, likely based on the T-90. A set of standard 220 mm launch tubes for Russian heavy flamethrower systems is installed on it. A downward trend in the number of launch tubes is observed. The ТОS-1 "Buratino" had 30, the most widespread ТОS-1A "Solntsepyok" had 24, ТОS-2 had 18, and ТОS-3 had only 15. This set is protected by an anti-drone cage.

The designers of the ТОS-3 have not solved the problem of balancing the launch tubes, so in its design (as in the ТОS-1/1A), additional supports or "crutches" are used to support the set in combat position. Thus, like its predecessors, the transition of the ТОS-3 from marching to combat position cannot be done without the crew leaving the vehicle.

The ТОS-3 will use ammunition from the ТОS-2 with a likely similar range, up to 15 km. The very idea of increasing the firing range for a typical assault weapon raises questions. Initially, the ТОS-1 was created as a means of direct fire at a distance of 2-3 km. This is precisely the essence of flamethrower weapons: direct support for assaults on fortified points. Increasing the firing range inevitably leads to increased dispersion of unguided projectiles, which, combined with the reduction in the number of launch tubes, significantly decreases the effectiveness of the fire. Essentially, the ТОS shifts from an instrument of "surgical" precision to a weapon of random terror.

Another point noted is that during the first deployment of the "Buratino" in Afghanistan, it was concluded that an additional weapon for the self-defense of ТОS was necessary. The ТОS-1M project provided for the installation of a 30 mm automatic cannon. However, a simplified version, the ТОS-1A, without additional armament, went into production.

This new system can also be compared to an earlier version that was mounted on a truck; the two Russian equipment pieces seem to share their launchers, but the comparison stops there. The chassis did not convince, and the Russians reverted to a tracked chassis.

A thermobaric rocket launcher is a weapon that uses special munitions to produce an intense high-temperature explosion by using the surrounding air's oxygen to create a destructive shock wave. The oxygen is completely burned, causing a devastating explosion by incinerating the surrounding air.

However, while speculation is rife at the moment, no official information has been released by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Worse still, no technical information has reached us, and we do not know the real capabilities of this new equipment.