Russia is rolling out to the global arms market, particularly African customers its all-new Typhoon-K MRAP family, which are available in the 6×6 (KAMAZ-63969) and 4×4 (KAMAZ-53949) wheel configurations, an informed military source disclosed to Military Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the target regions, explains the inside source. The Typhoon-K MRAPs were developed and produced by Remdizel company, based in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan (Russia). They are designed to provide integrated logistics support to combined arms and special units, including peacekeeping formations, in various environments. They provide a high-security level for the crew and cargo from small arms fire, from anti-tank and land mines. The Typhoon-K MRAPs were initially developed from the ground-up as MRAP but due to their flexibility, they can be easily reconfigured for various roles such as armored personnel carriers, armored ambulances, Infantry combat vehicles, armored recovery vehicles.
“Typhoon-K vehicles can operate in various climatic conditions, including those of Africa. Their chassis can become the basis for installing various weapons and technical systems. The armored module can be equipped with loopholes for firing small arms”, – the source explains.
Among the weapon systems that can be fitted into Typhoon-K vehicles are various remote-controlled weapon stations (with both machinegun and artillery armament) and missile launchers. In 2018, the 4×4 Typhoon-K with Kornet-EM long-range missile system was demonstrated at the ARMY-2018 international military expo in Russia.
The Kornet-EM long-range missile can hit targets at a range of up to 10 000 m with high accuracy, also, the Kornet High Explosive warheads with proximity detonation can be used to great effect against low-speed aerial targets up to 10 000 m far away.
“At the customer’s request the licensed production of these vehicles can be organized abroad such an experience already exists“, – says the source.
According to the official information from Remdizel, the vehicles have a very big clearance, a V-shaped bottom side that is capable of withstanding the debris and ensuring the effective energy dissipation. Independent suspension with hydro-pneumatic supports allows for an automatic and forced change of rigidity and ground clearance parameters and ensures high traveling comfort and effective vibration damping. The vehicle chassis serves as a base for mounting technological, engineering, and special equipment and creating vehicles of various applications and configurations.
Meanwhile, in early May 2020, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that research and developmental work on the new protected special purposes 4x 4 Typhoon-VDV vehicle were almost completed for the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV). Earlier, Remdizel also reported that Typhoon-VDV will be inducted into the Armed Forces in 2020.
Over the past few months, Russia has been aggressively marketing some of its modern weapon systems to prospective global customers, particularly African nations.
On April 23, Rosoboronexport announced that it is now actively offering its new Boomerang 8×8 amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) to several international customers, particularly for African nations.
The platform can perform a range of combat missions as well as peacetime operations. It can accommodate up to 11 soldiers with the troop compartment located at the rear of the vehicle.