What is 'Typhoon-PVO' Air Defense Combat Vehicle That Attracts Interest Across Africa?

The representative of the Russian military-industrial company Dzirkaln explained that there is interest among African countries that lack large air defense systems, "serious aviation, and have no cruise missiles and so on," to operate in "local conflicts."

According to the company official, apart from the African nations, potential buyers from "a number of CIS and Asia-Pacific countries" are interested in the vehicle.

So what is this new variant of the new iteration of the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) that have been in service since 2014?

Sputnik Africa examined the main known specifications and features of the vehicle family, with a focus on the Typhoon-PVO in particular.

In 2010, the Russian Defense Ministry approved a strategic development program for military vehicles, which provided for the "development of highly unified families of armored vehicles." The Typhoon family of vehicles (the modular KAMAZ-63968 and Ural-63095, as well as the single-volume Ural-63099) was demonstrated for the first time in early June 2011 at the proving grounds of the Russian military's Scientific Research and Testing Center in the Moscow Region.

In addition to being designed for the troop transport (as armored personnel carrier) role, the Typhoon family of armored vehicles can also be used for specialized tasks like self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery, UAV carriers, cranes, tow trucks, and others by installing different types of special equipment or weapon modules.

Designing a single platform for all Russian armored wheeled vehicles is the program's primary goal.

First and foremost, small drones, or FPV-drones, are currently among the most hazardous air destruction tools on the front line. Quick, agile, and—above all—extremely affordable in relation to the targets they strike.

One of the primary tasks of the Typhoon-PVO vehicle is to provide cover for military units and subunits, including those on the move.

To perform this role effectively, the vehicle is equipped with the capability to fire a machine gun while in motion at speeds of up to 20 km/h. To enable the squad to conduct combat operations without disembarking, a rotating turret with a mount for the Kord machine gun, as well as a hatch for the machine gunner, is installed on the roof. Additionally, a second hatch is designated for the MANPADS operator.

The vehicle's crew consists of five people: commander, driver, machine gunner, and two anti-aircraft gunners. The gunners' compartment contains MANPADS, launchers, power sources, radar interrogators, and ammunition for the machine gun.

Video cameras mounted on the outside of armored vehicles enable crew members to keep an eye on the situation without exiting the transport module and to take control of the vehicle in case they are unable to utilize the windshield.

An HLF-100 air filtration system keeps the crew and troop compartment at an artificial overpressure, supporting the sealed livable area on all equipment for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protection.

The Typhoon-PVO crew is carrying nine MANPADS, or anti-aircraft guided missiles, as ammo. According to the combat vehicle's designers, the Verba MANPADS system-equipped model guarantees the interception of airborne weapons traveling up to 420 m/sec, 500–6,000 m in range, and up to 3.5 km in altitude.

The Typhoon-PVO combat vehicle reportedly has a 350-horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 100 km/h, independent hydropneumatic suspension, and an automated transmission.

The vehicle's bottom armor can withstand up to six kilograms of explosives. The crew can be protected from 12.7 mm bullets by the ceramic armor and armor steel used for the hull's ballistic protection. For MANPADS anti-aircraft gunners, the Typhoon-PVO combat vehicle has great mobility, enabling troops to be swiftly transported to firing positions.

The vehicle allegedly saw combat use in Syria and in a special military operation in Ukraine.