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Russian forces have increasingly found themselves challenged by small, inexpensive drones that can spot, track, and strike armored targets with surprising accuracy. This shift on the battlefield has placed pressure on legacy weapons systems that were never designed to defend against persistent aerial threats. In response, Russia has begun fielding updated variants of one of its most infamous heavy flamethrower systems, the TOS-1A, now equipped with enhanced counter-drone capabilities.
Built on a T-72 tank chassis, the system is a short-range, thermobaric rocket launcher designed to overwhelm fortified positions and troops in cover. A full salvo can saturate roughly 40,000 square meters in seconds, creating intense overpressure capable of destroying bunkers, trenches, and lightly armored vehicles. However, its size, value, and frontline employment have made it a high-priority target for Ukrainian FPV drones.
To address this vulnerability, the newly delivered batch includes upgraded anti-UAV features. Russian officials did not disclose details, but field units have increasingly integrated radar warning receivers, electronic warfare modules, and improvised cage armor onto armored platforms. The new enhancements appear to follow that trend, informed by lessons from two years of drone-heavy fighting. The systems reportedly passed trials focused on mechanical reliability, fire-control accuracy, and operation across varied terrain and weather conditions.
According to Interesting Engineering, although classified as a flamethrower system, the system functions as a specialized close-support rocket launcher. Its armored chassis allows it to operate nearer to assault formations compared to conventional multiple-launch rocket systems. Russian channels frequently highlight its use in striking Ukrainian defensive lines or command posts, though independent verification is limited. A modernized version built on the T-80 tank platform is also nearing completion and is expected to introduce improved automation and greater range.
For homeland security and military planners abroad, the upgrades underscore a broader trend: heavy weapon systems originally designed for traditional ground combat are being rapidly modified to survive in a battlespace dominated by small drones. Whether for armored vehicles, base protection, or critical infrastructure, integrating counter-UAV defenses is becoming a baseline requirement rather than an optional add-on.
The system remains one of Russia’s most recognizable battlefield assets — and the newest upgrades show how even legacy systems must evolve to stay relevant in drone-saturated conflict zones.
