Trumpeter 09560 Russian TOS-1 Multiple Rocket Launcher Mod. 1989

The first work on the self-propelled rocket artillery system TOS-1 began in the mid-1970s at the arms plant in Omsk. In 1988, the set was adopted by the Soviet Army. To this day (2017), it remains in service with the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Serial production started in 1988 or 1989 and continues to this day in Omsk. The TOS-1 set is based on the chassis of the T-72 or T-90 tank. On such a chassis was mounted a 24-guide or 30-guide 220mm rocket launcher for the TOS-1 family of missiles. They are thermobaric missiles, i.e. they have fuel-air warheads. For this reason, the TOS-1 set is called in Russia the "heavy flamethrower". The main purpose of the TOS-1 is to support its own armored forces during breakthroughs, fighting in built-up or mountainous terrain. In the course of combat, the TOS-1 is most often used to cover own tanks or - less frequently - mechanized infantry. TOS-1 underwent its baptism of fire in Afghanistan in 1988-1989 (Operation Typhoon), where it proved to be excellent. It was also used in combat during the Second Chechen War, and only then, during the fighting for Komsomolskoye in 2000, the world learned about the existence of such weapons in the Russian arsenal. A small number of TOS-1 sets are currently part of the armed forces of only a few countries, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iraq or Kazakhstan, but most of all the Russian Federation.