Russia's 'Pinocchio': A feared weapon with vulnerabilities
The Russian TOS-1 rocket artillery system, known as "Pinocchio," is a powerful weapon capable of destroying an entire city in seconds, assessed Brent Eastwood, a former U.S. Army officer, a week before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Has this Russian weapon proven to be as feared in the three years of conflict? We explain.
The Russian TOS-1 rocket artillery system, also known as "Pinocchio," is one of the most dangerous weapons in Russia's arsenal. Although developed during the Soviet era, it still instills fear with its destructive power. Just before the war in Ukraine began, Brent Eastwood, a former U.S. Army officer, assessed that the TOS-1 might be Putin's most powerful non-nuclear weapon.
The destructive power of the Russian "Pinocchio"
The TOS-1 system is a rotary launcher that can fire 30 or 24 rockets with 220 mm caliber warheads. It was developed in the 1970s and first saw combat use during the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Each rocket contains 100 pounds of thermobaric explosive, making this weapon extremely dangerous. The system is mounted on T-72 or T-90 tank chassis.
The TOS-1 launcher can cover an area of 15 square miles in seconds, meaning it can destroy an entire medium-sized city. For comparison, Siedlce covers about 12 square miles, while Sopot covers 7 square miles. This system launches not only fragmentation warheads but also incendiary rockets that cause fires similar to napalm.
Controversies surrounding the TOS-1
Brent Eastwood emphasized in his column on the 19FortyFive website that the TOS-1 is a weapon that "sucks the life out of everyone in the strike zone." Often referred to as a flamethrower, its use is controversial. Eastwood pondered whether it should be banned due to its destructive power and ability to cause deadly fires. Additionally, the rockets reach their target in just 6-15 seconds. Because of how it operates, the TOS-1 system has also earned the nickname "hellfire weapon."
The TOS-1A, used by Russians in Ukraine, is particularly effective in eliminating personnel from fortifications and buildings. Its operation is based on the use of thermobaric charges, which draw oxygen from the environment, creating a vacuum and generating a shockwave. The effects of the explosion are comparable to nuclear weapons, though without radiation.
TOS-1 systems - a key target for Ukrainians
Despite its power, the TOS-1A has significant limitations. Its range is only 4 miles, exposing it to attacks from drones and anti-tank missiles. The Russians attempt to protect these systems by installing anti-drone jammers, but the effectiveness of this solution is limited.
TOS-1A systems are a key target for Ukrainian armed forces, which successfully destroy them using improvised "kamikaze" drones. Damage to one of the rockets can trigger a chain reaction, leading to a spectacular explosion. Despite its destructive power, the TOS-1A remains vulnerable to attacks, making it both a formidable and risky weapon to use.
