Russian MRAP program – Areion24.news
During the first decade of the 21st centurye This century, American troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have been confronted with the importance of the distance to be traveled in unsafe areas. Thus, during the journeys made by convoys between each lane, troops were hit by IEDs, a major vector of attack by Iraqi and Afghan insurgents.
en November 2006 USMC therefore requested that a new range of vehicles, the MRAP (mine-resistant ambush protection vehicle), be put into service as soon as possible. The MRAP would quickly establish itself as the most effective means of protecting departing troops, which would not leave indifferent the Russian staff, anticipating a future conflict, wishing to equip its units with a type of multirole vehicle then unknown in its ranks. So it was decided to launch an ambitious program as soon as possible to equip the Russian army with the MRAP family, generic platforms, which should share different components such as the engine, chassis as well as 4×4 gears. or 6 × 6. Called Typhoon, this program was launched in 2010. To do this, almost a hundred companies are linked, but Ural and especially Kamaz are the main contractors.
The latter were then invited to make proposals and after studying their respective projects, Kamaz won the main contract by offering two models with six-wheel drive and front cab: 63968, called Taifun-K, and 63969, more original. However, Ural was not removed from the program, and continued to develop its model, which is similar to a large armored truck: Ural 63095 or Typhoon-U.
Typhoon-K
Manufactured by Remdizel JSC, a subsidiary of Kamaz, the 63968 Typhoon-K was first introduced in 2011. Like all other models in the family, it is intended for NBC reconnaissance, command, reconnaissance, fire support, or convoy escort missions. In 2012, an acquisition contract for 12 Taifun-K was signed for unit testing. Their first release was in Nijni-Tagil in 2013, but it wasn’t until 2014 that they were shown to the general public during a parade in Red Square, where their modern look was seen.
Forty copies were ordered immediately, and deliveries will be made in phases through 2016. Several of these have already been deployed in Syria, mainly in units of the military police where they are equipped with the RP-377UVM1 counter-IED jammer. Prior to the conflict in Ukraine, about 290 Typhoon-Ks were operating with Russian troops. But this figure had to be revised downwards, since 14 copies were destroyed, mainly in the Chechen or “Kadirovsky” troops.
The 63968 Taifun-K was a permanent 6×6 with two steerable front axles which allowed a turning radius of less than 10 m. The hydropneumatic suspension system varies the ground clearance from 270 mm in the parked position to 430 mm in the on-road position and 630 mm in the off-road position. The pilot can adjust the honeycomb tire pressure from his seat according to the nature of the terrain, asphalt, sand or snow. The bottom of the “V” box could withstand a burst load of up to 8 kg of TNT. The body’s structural armor (9 m long, 2.55 m wide and 3.32 m high) consists of mechanically welded armor plates, reinforced with ceramic-based plates. The protection is STANAG 4569 level 3 class, as is the glass part. It was provided to withstand 7.62 mm and 14.5 mm ammunition at a range of 200 m.
The layout of the Taifun-K is unique in the MRAP family, with the cab at the front. It houses the pilot on the left, the staff in the center (optional), and the captain on the right. They accessed their anti-IED seats through an electrically operated side door fitted with armored glass. Behind the pilot, on the left, is the GMP (Powertrain), which can be accessed via a side door. For more severe maintenance operations, the cab can tilt forward. The GMP consists of a 450 hp Kamaz V8 turbodiesel engine mated to a six-speed Allison or YamAZ automatic gearbox. eight speed. It is overcome by air intake grilles, hot air extraction is carried out by side grilles.
This GMP allows a vehicle weighing 22 t (including four payloads) to have a maximum speed of 105 km/h on the highway, for a range of 630 km. The two tanks are located outside, on both sides of the body, between the second and third axles, which greatly increases the level of personal protection. The large rear compartment holds 14 infantrymen. Sitting face to face, they access their anatomical seats, equipped with five-point seat belts, blast silencers and ceiling-mounted, ramped, with integrated doors whose opening is electrically operated by the pilot or group leader. . The compartment is topped by six roof hatches for emergency exits and has two small windows to look out to the sides. All personnel benefit from collective NBC protection, air conditioning and a 360° vision system, thanks to five cameras combined with in-cab monitors, making it possible to assess immediate threats. It should be noted that the models 8×8, 63988, available, but apparently not operational at this time.
