Official Footage Confirms TOS-3 Combat Use
On February 4, 2026, the Russian Ministry of Defense released official footage showing the TOS-3 Drakon heavy flamethrower system conducting combat operations in Ukraine. According to the ministry, the system’s crew belongs to the 29th Separate Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Brigade of the Center Group of Forces and destroyed a Ukrainian stronghold in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.
The TOS-3 launcher in the footage is equipped with protective mesh screening similar to that seen on the TOS-2, as well as the Volnorez electronic warfare system. The vehicle also appears to feature updated digital fire-control and communications equipment intended to support extended-range engagements and improve survivability.
Evolution of the TOS Family
“TOS” is the Russian acronym for Tyazhyolaya Ognemyotnaya Sistema, or Heavy Flamethrower System. The concept originated with the Soviet-era TOS-1 Buratino, developed between 1971 and 1979 and introduced in 1988. Mounted on a T-72 tank chassis with 30 launch tubes, the 45.3-ton system carried 220 mm thermobaric rockets with an initial range of 0.5 to 3 kilometers. Operated by NBC Protection Troops, the TOS-1 saw early combat testing in Afghanistan in 1988–1989.
The modernized TOS-1A Solntsepyok entered service in 2001. It reduced the launcher to 24 tubes and incorporated a reinforced hull, ballistic computer, laser rangefinder, and smoke grenade launchers. Its upgraded rockets extended range to 6 km with the MO.1.01.04M and up to 10 km with the MO.1.01.04M2. The TOS-1A has been used in multiple conflicts, including Ukraine.
Shift to Mobility: TOS-2 Tosochka
Combat experience led to the development of the TOS-2 Tosochka, first displayed publicly in 2020 and entering service in 2021. Unlike earlier tracked variants, the TOS-2 uses a 6x6 UralAZ-63704-0010 wheeled chassis and carries 18 rockets. It integrates an onboard loading crane, satellite navigation, updated fire-control systems, and new communications equipment.
The TOS-2 employs the TBS-M3 rocket, with a stated range of at least 10–12 km and, in some references, up to 20 km. The wheeled platform improves road mobility and operational reach compared to tracked predecessors. The system has also been observed in Ukraine.
Development and Features of the TOS-3 Drakon
Public indications of the TOS-3 emerged in January 2024 when Omsktransmash registered the “TOS-3 Drakon” trademark. Rostec confirmed in April 2024 that a prototype had been built on a tracked chassis with a new launcher for extended-range munitions. The system was publicly unveiled in June 2024, and first combat footage appeared in November 2025.
Available information indicates the TOS-3 uses a tracked armored chassis, likely derived from the T-72 or T-80 series, fitted with a lighter 15-tube launcher arranged in three rows of five. The reduced number of tubes is assessed to allow larger rockets with increased propellant capacity. While official performance data remain unpublished, estimates suggest engagement ranges of 15 km or more, with some higher figures cited.
The vehicle is reportedly designed to weigh approximately 40 to 42 tonnes in combat configuration, potentially improving mobility compared to the 46-ton TOS-1A. Protective mesh and electronic countermeasures appear to reflect adaptations to drone threats encountered in Ukraine.
Thermobaric Employment and Operational Context
TOS systems fire 220 mm thermobaric rockets that disperse an aerosolized fuel cloud before ignition, generating a high-temperature blast wave and sustained overpressure effect. These munitions are intended for use against fortified positions, enclosed structures, light armored vehicles, and personnel.
Earlier TOS variants required close-range, line-of-sight engagements with manual rangefinding and ballistic calculations. Subsequent models have incorporated digital fire-control systems and integration with reconnaissance drones, enabling longer standoff distances and faster target engagement. The deployment of the TOS-3 reflects continued modernization of Russia’s thermobaric rocket artillery capabilities.
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