Russia plans more flamethrower systems, analysts say

Russia has decided to increase production of self-propelled flamethrower systems despite their vulnerability on the battlefield, Defense Express analysts said, according to UNIAN's November 9 report. UNIAN did not specify who made the decision, when it was taken or the scale and timetable of the planned increase. Its report does not establish that output has already risen.

The analysts described tracked and wheeled flamethrower systems as highly vulnerable in a battlefield dominated by drones. They suggested Russia might weigh the weapons' high firepower alongside losses; this was their assessment of a possible motive.

Defense Express also discussed the Vozrozhdeniye modular multiple-launch rocket system project, designed to use thermobaric ammunition as well as conventional rockets. The analysts suggested its reported ranges of 35 kilometres for rockets and 15 kilometres for thermobaric ammunition could explain why it had not entered production. UNIAN did not establish a definitive reason.

Separately, UNIAN cited Ukraine's General Staff as saying Russia had lost 138 TOS-1, TOS-2 and TOS-3 self-propelled flamethrower systems as of November 3, 2026. That figure refers to the stated date, rather than the report's publication date.