Elite Equipment: Russian Paratroopers to Get New Armored Vehicle

The first mock-up model of a new Russian assault armored vehicle for use during training is already in production, according to Russian Airborne Troops chief Vladimir Shamanov.

Russian paratroopers will soon be equipped with new Typhoon 4х4 armored personnel carriers, RIA Novosti quoted Russian Airborne Troops chief Vladimir Shamanov as saying.

He said that as part of the development work, specialists dealing with the Typhoon family of mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicles have worked out a four-wheel combat vehicle for use during reconnaissance and by special units of the Russian Airborne and Special Operations Forces.

"Now the creation of the new Typhoon assault armored vehicle has already entered the stage of design documentation and construction of the first mock-up model. This is the first step in developing a wheeled combat vehicles segment,"Shamanov said.

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He added that aside from work on this new Typhoopn vehicle, cooperation is being carried out with a military-industrial company which "offers a wheel-mounted amphibious vehicle with a third degree of protection."

As for the new Typhoon assault armored vehicle, it will be a modernized version of the Typhoon-K 6x6 armored personnel carriers, which are produced by KamAZ, a Russian truck manufacturer.

The military branch of the Russian Armed Forces which will get the new weaponry, the country's Airborne Troops, are regarded an elite force which was first formed before the Second World War.