Ukraine neutralizes feared Russian 'poor man’s nuke' in tactical drone strike

Ukrainian drone operators from the 63rd Mechanized Brigade eliminated a threatening TOS-1A system in the vicinity of Kreminna. We delve into the story behind this attack and clarify why this system is capable of creating utter devastation.

In the Kreminna area, Ukrainians destroyed or at least severely damaged the heavy flamethrower TOS-1A using FPV drones. It seems the TOS-1A was almost depleted, hence there wasn't the usual dramatic explosion. This episode marks the 23rd loss documented in photos or videos from the conflicts.

It's important to recognize that even a single loss for the Russians is significant, especially considering estimates before the conflict suggested only about 50 units were in service. These units are specialized systems designed to eliminate soldiers from even the most fortified positions using thermobaric warhead missiles.

The TOS-1A systems, deployed into Russian army service during the intervention in Afghanistan, are highly effective in neutralizing adversaries hidden in both field fortifications and urban areas. At their core, these systems feature a launcher with 24 unguided rockets of 220mm caliber.

They are mounted on the widely used T-72 tank chassis T-72. Notably, each rocket is equipped with a warhead containing about 45 kilograms of thermobaric explosive, ensuring a vast destructive potential.

Thermobaric explosives are distinct from conventional explosives as they do not contain oxygen within their composition; rather, they utilize the oxygen from the environment. This enables them to carry more active substance at a comparable weight.

The detonation of a thermobaric warhead is a two-stage process, where initially, the thermobaric charge, in the form of an aerosol, is released into the air, followed by a delay fuse igniting the resultant mixture.

At the epicenter of the explosion, temperatures can soar up to about 3000 degrees Celsius, also resulting in oxygen depletion in the area and creating a vacuum. Moreover, similar to conventional explosives, there is a shock wave capable of damaging structures as robust as the fuselage of airplanes, which, owing to the vacuum created, subsequently returns. This unique mechanism of thermobaric charges generates pressure spikes up to several hundred kilograms per square centimetre.

Such dramatic shifts in pressure can lead to the damage of soft tissue, such as the lungs, dooming those in the impact zone to a painful end, even if they survive the initial effects of the explosion. In confined spaces, where shock waves resonate, there's an intensified amplification of this extremely lethal effect.

It can be stated that in the zero zone, conditions resemble those witnessed with nuclear weapons, albeit without the radiation. Thus, this weapon has earned the moniker "the poor man's nuke." However, a notable limitation of the TOS-1A system is its range, restricted to up to about 6 kilometres, which exposes it to attacks by artillery, anti-tank guided missiles like the Stugna-P, or FPV drones.