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It’s no secret that the terrorist state of Russia is equipped with heavy flamethrower systems that possess significant destructive power. However, Ukraine is not lagging behind and has a strong response of its own. Today, we’ll talk about the first product of its kind from Ukrainian production—the SIVALKA VM 8. This Ukrainian flamethrower system is designed to launch unguided S-8 aviation rockets from wheeled vehicles. The Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) are already actively using it on the front lines. Several videos have surfaced online showing how this system helps defenders counter enemy infantry using thermobaric warheads.
The Army TV team shared details about the new flamethrower system: “Thermobaric shells that burn everything around them—that’s the principle behind the Ukrainian SIVALKA VM 8 flamethrower system. Inside the shell is an aerosol that, when ignited, burns up all the oxygen around it. This allows SIVALKA to target enemy infantry, lightly armored vehicles, bunkers, and other structures. The main advantages of this system are its accuracy and mobility. The entire rocket-launching unit can be quickly removed and mounted on a different chassis, and SIVALKA can even operate from the bed of an off-road truck.”
Sviatoslav, a flamethrower operator in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, shared operational details with Lieutenant Colonel Serhiy Misyura: “We’ve been working with this type of vehicle since August last year. It has proven to be an effective mobile unit, especially for targeting infantry in open terrain. It’s also useful against lightly armored vehicles, if any are present or in accumulation areas. Inside the rocket, there’s a capsule. When it hits the target, it releases the aerosol. The next step is ignition. During the explosion, it creates a sphere that burns all the oxygen around it, creating a low-pressure zone. As a result, the affected area expands significantly, and when firing a full salvo, it can cover up to one hectare of territory.”
The advantage of the thermobaric system is that it can cover and affect both bunkers and enclosed spaces. It works wherever there is air, where oxygen is present. In just a few milliseconds, the aerosol disperses, and the next detonator ignites it. As a result, it burns up the oxygen in the surrounding area.
This modification, the S8 TER, can operate at a range of 8 to 10 km. The system can launch single shots, multiple shots, or fire a full salvo of 16 rockets all at once. Depending on the situation, it takes about 3 to 5 minutes to arrive, set up, aim, and launch the salvo. The launch of a full 16-shot salvo takes 40 seconds.
In addition to being entirely Ukrainian-made, the vehicle has several other advantages. For instance, its mobility and mechanical design allow it to operate independently of electronic warfare (EW) and radar electronic warfare (REW) interference. The wired cable ensures an electrical firing mechanism for crew safety, as the crew remains at a safe distance during launch, both during operation and while awaiting target acquisition or re-targeting.
As mentioned earlier, the launcher block for the unguided rockets (NAR) is detachable, allowing it to be removed from a damaged chassis if necessary. Additionally, the block, along with the launch rails, is covered with extra steel armor, enhancing the system’s durability in the event of shrapnel hits. It is claimed that the Sivalka VM-8 offers high shooting accuracy, with 80% of shots hitting within a 100-meter diameter circle. The estimated maximum firing range of the Sivalka VM-8 is approximately 5 kilometers.
The unguided S-8KO rocket used by the Ukrainian military for firing from the Sivalka VM-8 is equipped with a cumulative fragmentation warhead. It is reported that this rocket can penetrate armor up to 400 mm thick. Unlike other unguided rockets, it features a reduced engine burn time. According to media reports, the Sivalka VM-8 has been mounted on the chassis of Nissan pick-ups and HMMWVs. There is also an argument that the Sivalka VM-8 should not be classified as a multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS), but rather as a separate class of reactive mortars.
It is currently known that the Sivalka VM-8 MLRS is being used in the Donetsk region, particularly near Bakhmut. Additionally, in the Kursk region of Russia, Ukrainian paratroopers from the 80th Brigade deployed the Sivalka VM-8 fire support systems to target Russian troops and equipment. The corresponding video was shared by the paratroopers themselves.
In the video, the combat operations of a radiation, chemical, and biological protection unit from the 80th Galician Airborne Brigade are visible as they engage in active combat in the Kursk region. Specifically, these Ukrainian flame-throwing systems, using S-8 thermobaric rockets, are targeting Russian personnel and military equipment. “The Russian losses are substantial. More to come…” — this message was shared by the Airborne Command.
For the information provided, we are grateful to the military television channel Army TV.
Read also:
- Weapons of Ukrainian Victory: GEREON RCS Ground Drones
- Weapons of Ukrainian victory: French Crotale SAM
