Russia unveils extended-range flamethrower TOS‑3 "Drakon"

The Russian Ministry of Defense has presented for the first time the new flamethrower TOS-3 "Drakon," reports the Military Service. This may indicate the start of its deliveries to the army. The released footage shows the artillery system and other weapons equipped in the newly formed 1st Mobile Guard Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces. Here is a reminder of what TOS-3 "Drakon" is.

TOS-3 "Drakon" is the successor to the TOS-1 "Solntsepyok" and TOS-2 "Tosochka" artillery systems, for which the Russian arms factory Omsktransmash has focused on increasing range. TOS-3 combines the chassis of the first system mentioned and the second launcher. As earlier reported, this thermobaric weapon was patented in February 2024, and two months later, the Russians created a test copy. It seems they are now introducing it to the army.

Bekkhan Ozdoev, industrial director of Rostec State Corporation, interviewed the Russian state news agency TASS in April, in which he spoke about the capabilities of the new Russian weapon. From his statements, it appears that the TOS-3 "Drakon" will be mounted on a tracked chassis and have a greater range thanks to the new launcher. It will also allow for the use of new types of ammunition.

It is worth noting that the TOS-1 has a range of 4 to 6 miles, the TOS-2 ranges from 10 to 16 miles, and the TOS-3 will likely exceed 16 miles. Increasing the weapon's range will allow it to be positioned further from the front line, reducing the possibility of being destroyed by enemy forces.

Available photos and videos indicate that the TOS-3 has 15 guides arranged in three rows of five. The Topwar.ru service notes that the TOS-3 will employ modern, improved navigation, data exchange, and fire control systems. Thanks to these advancements, it will be ready to operate faster, and its accuracy, compared to the TOS-1 and TOS-2, will improve.

This is not the best news for Russia's adversaries, as such systems use powerful thermobaric missiles. As previously explained, during an attack with such a weapon, the temperature at the epicenter reaches 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit. In such conditions, in the zero zone, everything evaporates, and all the surrounding oxygen is consumed. The site of the attack thus turns into a deadly trap.