Солнцепёк (Solntsepyok; ‘Blazing Sun’). It is one of Russia’s most destructive weapons. ‘Blazing Sun’ was first tested in the Panjshir, Afghanistan, around 1988 by the Red Army during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–89). The 24, 220 mm tube MLRS (multiple launch rocket system), launches incendiary or thermobaric warheads. TOS-1A model, introduced in 2020, delivers charges to a maximum distance of 10 km, doubling the range of an earlier model; quadrupling the minimum range from 400m to 1.6 km. This permits crews to fire farther away from the line of contact, reducing risks from counter-battery fire.[1] A powerful shock wave is generated by the thermobaric charges, which, when they do not kill, can cause horrific injuries, and create devastating psychological impacts on survivors.
[1] Some of the publicly-available information has specifications for older models.
Solntsepyok systems use thermobaric rockets called ‘volumetric explosion ammunition’ or ‘volumetric detonating ammunition.’ Thermobaric rockets spray a flammable substance and then detonate this substance. With respect to explosive power, large thermobaric missiles are comparable to tactical nuclear weapons, but without radiation emissions. A full salvo from a TOS–1A Solntsepyok covers an area of 40,000 m2 with a gas cloud. On detonation, the oxygen in the gas cloud reacts in a fast process. Temperature at the epicenter of the explosion reaches 3,000°C. The fire does not necessarily destroy obstacles, but flows around them (Russian sources: redacted).
John McCain dismissed Russia as a ‘gas station masquerading as a country.’ Unfortunately, this view prevails inside the Beltway and within Whitehall. The view that Russian weapons are inferior and/or overrated is reflected in media reporting on Solntsepyok, many of which originate within Ukrainian ‘officialdom.’ A number of Russian weapon systems are superior to any in the American arsenal; for example, the coaxial ‘hunter-killer’ Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ helicopter, which is ‘best in class,’ and superior to the Cobra attack helicopter. Russian weaponry is constantly being improved based on battlefield experiences. As shall be discussed in further reports, Russia is sharing some of this technology with Iran; and Iranian Revolutionary Guards are in the Ukraine theater learning from Russian experiences with NATO weaponry. Returning to Solntsepyok, videos and battlefield reports analyzed by me tell a different story than the one portrayed by pro-Ukrainian stenographers. Solntsepyok has been effective at destroying Ukrainian positions and demoralizing personnel. I have only included ‘family friendly’ videos to this report because I am disallowed by the hosting site’s ‘terms of service’ from uploading videos depicting violence against living beings.
The TOS–2 Tosochka (Тосочка) is an upgraded model for attacking fortified positions and light armored vehicles. It was first observed in the Ukrainian front in mid-January 2024. I will write about this model once details and photos/videos become available.
Perspectives 
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