Russia has delivered a new batch of TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems to its armed forces, with the latest models featuring enhanced anti-drone protection. The upgrades are part of an ongoing effort to harden frontline equipment against the growing threat posed by Ukrainian unmanned systems. According to state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec, the improvements directly reflect lessons learned from recent combat operations, where drone attacks have become a significant challenge for Russia’s armored vehicles and artillery systems.
The TOS-1A, mounted on a T-72 tank chassis, is one of Russia’s most feared battlefield weapons due to its ability to launch thermobaric rockets over a wide area. Capable of firing a devastating salvo in seconds, each system can blanket up to 40,000 square meters (430,556 square feet) with high-temperature blast effects. The new defensive enhancements aim to ensure the platform can continue delivering these large-scale strikes despite increasing aerial threats.
The introduction of reinforced protection also signals Moscow’s broader push to adapt legacy systems for drone-dominated combat environments. With both sides in the conflict heavily reliant on UAVs for surveillance and attack, survivability upgrades such as electronic suppression, additional armor, and anti-drone screens have become standard measures across Russia’s frontline vehicle fleets.
