The Russian Ministry of Defense has presented its new TOS-3 Drakon flamethrower system with an extended range for the first time.

Russian media published footage of the rocket launcher.

The new Russian flamethrower system was presented on June 3 during a solemn event dedicated to the formation of the 1st Mobile NBC Protection Brigade of the NBC Protection Troops.

The organizers presented the audience with the military equipment and weapons that this military formation is equipped with. This may indicate the beginning of TOS-3 deliveries to the Russian Armed Forces.

Judging by the images, the TOS-3 is a further development of the TOS-1 system, which is based on the same T-72 tank chassis. The platform has traditionally received the Kontakt-5 ERA.

In addition, for the first time, the TOS-3 artillery system and the nearby TOS-2 system were fitted with standard factory-made anti-drone grilles to protect the missile launcher. The grilles themselves are also equipped with antennas of the Volnorez electronic warfare system.

Compared to previous systems, the TOS-3 received a smaller launcher with 15 tubes for unguided thermobaric missiles. The probable reason for this decision could be the desire to compensate for the loosening of the heavy launcher, which affected accuracy.

However, with the decrease in the salvo, the system’s range should increase significantly due to the use of new TBS-M3 missiles with a range of up to 15 km.

Increasing the firing range of flamethrower systems is a major challenge for Russian designers. Currently, the extremely vulnerable systems are forced to approach the front lines and are often destroyed by Ukrainian attack drones.

At the same time, the decision to continue using a difficult-to-operate tank chassis remains unclear, given that the longer-range TOS-3 will be able to fire from the rear without the need to move over rough terrain.

Last month, the soldiers of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade destroyed a TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system of the invaders.

The enemy equipment was destroyed using FPV drones that tracked it near the contact line when it was returning from a firing position.