Russian Special Forces use Taifun-K 6x6 MRAP during exercise in Serbia.

Russian Central Military District special operations units have used Taifun-K armored vehicles for the first time during an exercise at the Shilovo training range in the Novosibirsk Region in West Siberia, the district’s press office said. Kamaz-63968 Typhoon (Taifun-K) is a family of Russian multi-functional, modular, armoured, mine resistant MRAP vehicles. The Typhoon family is part of Russia's Typhoon program launched in 2010.

KAMAZ-63968 Typhoon-K at Victory Day military parade rehearsal, April 2018.  (Picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)

"Under the exercise’s scenario, a group of special operators patrolling the route on two Tigr vehicles and a Taifun-K armored vehicle for a humanitarian convoy ran into an ambush prepared by a simulated enemy’s sabotage team," the press office said. "One of the Tigr vehicles covered the assault team getting out of the Taifun-K vehicle and provided fire support at the same time," the press office added.

After the simulated enemy’s attack was repelled, the special operators practiced providing first medical aid to notionally injured persons and evacuating them. A batch of eight advanced Taifun-K armored vehicles was delivered to a Central Military District special operations large unit based in the Novosibirsk Region in early April under the state defense procurement program.

The Taifun-K armored vehicle is designed to transport special operators. The vehicle is able to protect the crew, cargo, systems and units against 30mm rounds, landmines and explosive devices. The Taifun-K is a cross-country vehicle due to its 6x6 chassis. It has a maximum speed of 105 km/h (65 mph). The armored module has ports to fire small arms and can accommodate remote-controlled weapons.