These launchers can hold up to two dozen 220-millimeter rockets. And they are deadly weapons. When these warheads land there is a massive explosion which emits a flammable, chemical cloud. And ignites the surrounding air.
A full salvo can decimate an area of 200 x 400 meters. And it kills everything in that area by exploding victim’s lungs, suffocation or burning people and animals in proximity to a thermobaric rocket hit.
Buratinos were originally designed in the 1970s by the U.S. Russia adopted the design and modified it in the 1980s. The weapon system was first used in combat in 1988 in the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan.
The later TOS-1A is a high-grade TOS-1 which has more range and the capacity to fire more rockets. It has an expanded range of six kilometers or 3.8 miles.
It also features heavier armor on the launcher. The launcher is still the weak spot on the mobile death units.
The Solntsepek is equipped with a laser rangefinder which feeds info directly to the fire control system. This adjusts for the vehicle’s pitch and roll and then provides a firing solution.
