Hugh Harkins

Typhoon K: K-63968, K-63969, K-53949 & K-4386 MRAP Armoured Vehicles Hugh Harkins

The Typhoon K (★★★★★★ K (Taifun K)) family of mine resistant ambush protected wheeled armoured vehicles began entering service with the ground forces of the Russian Federation in late 2013/early 2014. The Typhoon K series was developed as an integral element of the Russian Federation plans to modernise its armoured vehicle inventory in the period 2010-2020. There are four major variants of the Typhoon K - K-63968 & K-63969 built on a 6x6 chassis and K-53949 & K-4386 built on a 4x4 chassis. All variants can be armed with automatic combat modules, the 4x4 variants being outfitted with more diverse weapons options, ranging from medium/heavy machine guns and 30 mm automatic grenade launchers to 30 mm automatic gun armed uninhabited turrets for the K-4386. The K-53949 and K-4386 have been further developed as fire support vehicles armed with mortar complexes. The K-53949 has also been developed as a dedicated medical module (further developed into two distinct sub-variants) and for engineering (mine carrier) and command posts. The K-4386 has been further developed as the MTP-K tactical reconnaissance platform and as the Typhoon Air-Defence Vehicle for carriage of Igla-S surface to air missiles. This volume adopts a free flowing style rather than the traditional chapter format, due to the interrelated relationship between the variants and weapon systems. The volume sets out to detail the Typhoon K genesis, design and initial entry into service with the ground forces of the Russian Federation. All technical data relating to the respective Typhoon K platforms, weapon systems and components have been furnished by the respective design bureaus, as has much of the imagery/graphics, with additional impute from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.