And who can you not meet on the forest paths near Moscow! Here, for example, is a new armored truck, which has not even been put into service yet. This is Ural-63095, aka Typhoon. Its pre-production samples are being tested and are preparing to appear before the state commission.
“Wait! What kind of Typhoon is this? - readers interested in military equipment will probably object to me. A real Typhoon - here it is in the picture! It was developed at the Kama Automobile Plant and it is called KAMAZ-63968.
Well, yes, we saw Kama cars at the parade last year.
They are built according to the cabover scheme typical for all KAMAZ trucks and are actually produced in Naberezhnye Chelny.
But the car I met was also a Typhoon, albeit a Ural. Confused? I'll explain everything now.
Typhoon is the general name for a whole family of army armored vehicles, for the creation of which a competition has been announced. Both KAMAZ and UralAZ took part in it. The Kamsk car is already ready, and the Ural car is completing tests and undergoing final development. I do not know when the time "H" is appointed, at the onset of which the state commission will choose one of the two cars. But rumor has it that both cars will be accepted. They will simply be "scouted" for different areas of use.
Initially, when the competition for the creation of the Typhoon was announced, it was assumed that the machines presented for it would be largely unified. But somehow it didn't work out. KAMAZ used its own chassis, and UralAZ, as you can see, used its own. However, both vehicles belong to the same Western MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) class and have a V-shaped "mine-proof" bottom. Its sloping armor plates effectively dissipate the energy of the explosion when hitting a mine.
In terms of its dimensions, the armored Typhoon does not differ much from the civilian Ural truck. The only thing is that for better geometric cross-country ability, the front and rear overhangs were reduced. And one more thing: there are two versions of such a machine! Here you see the one-volume version with the passenger body combined with the cockpit. And there is also a two-volume machine with an autonomous cab and a body superstructure separate from it, which, at the request of the customer, can be replaced with any special equipment. But personally, I have not seen such a machine live.
The diagram shown here was kindly provided to me by the representatives of the manufacturer.
Here in this photo you can clearly see the V-shaped bottom of the car. Sorry for the dirt - all the shooting was done in the field, in the process of testing the car.
The suspension of the Ural Typhoon is pneumatic. Pneumatic elements - one for each wheel (pictured) - can raise or lower the body by almost 30 cm. A useful option off-road!
All three axles of the car are equipped with 20-inch Michelin tires with a special "bump" insert Hutchinson, allowing you to continue driving even with a flat tire. However, there is also a centralized tire inflation system here. As far as I know, military customers are not happy with the fact that the car has imported tires. But in Russia so far no suitable tires are produced, although work on their creation is underway.
The most vulnerable components of the transmission and suspension are covered with additional armor plates. But they are unlikely to save from being blown up by a serious mine. The car will be immobilized, but people in the cabin will most likely not be hurt. They say that during the tests, the Typhoon withstood the explosion of an 8-kilogram charge!
Another condition of the competition was the use of a common engine. This has been observed. Both KAMAZ and Ural cars are equipped with a 6, 7-liter 450-horsepower YaMZ-5367 diesel engine.
The cockpit and the armored module for the transport of personnel withstand the hit of a 14.5-mm armor-piercing bullet from the KPV machine gun from a distance of 200 meters, which corresponds to the 4th level of STANAG 4569 according to the NATO classification. Here you can see what it means.
A separate subject of pride for the creators of the Typhoon is the ultramodern fully LED lighting technology.
It is installed here both in the front and in the back.
A multipurpose armored vehicle is not considered a combat unit. He doesn't have to fight. His task is to deliver the soldiers to a given point. But he shouldn't be completely "toothless" either. For example, for fire support of an assault force or protection of escorted convoys of equipment, a remote-controlled combat module with a 12, 7-mm Kord machine gun can be installed on the roof of the Typhoon.
An important point: in spite of all its "special" properties, the Typhoon should in no way be inferior to ordinary vehicles approved for operation on public roads in terms of driving performance! Its top speed exceeds 100 km / h at full load.
The driver's seat here is practically the same as in ordinary civilian "Urals".
The dashboard has a large LCD screen. Now readings of all main instruments are displayed on it: oil temperature and pressure, fuel supply, voltage of the on-board network, etc.
To the right of the driver is another screen. It displays all the data of the trip computer. Here you can see which doors are open, whether the landing ramp is lowered …
As I said, this modification of the Typhoon has an open passage from the troop compartment to the cockpit.
Yes, I almost forgot - the gearbox is automatic here (as it was indicated in the state order). Its selector is responsible for the transmission modes, differential locks and transfer case control. So far, this knot has not yet acquired its final form. If it comes to the "series", it will be ennobled.
The armored cab doors are not yet cladding. But this, you see, is a trifle!
Immediately behind the cockpit (to the right in the direction of travel) is the work place of the shooter - the operator of the remotely controlled machine gun module.
Further - places for paratroopers.
All seats are equipped with individual seat belts and are not installed on the floor, but suspended from the walls of the body. This allows you to reduce the burden on people when blowing up on a mine.
Well, fighters are parachuted through a folding ramp in the rear wall of the body. It goes down and up automatically. But in case of failure of the automation, an ordinary door is also provided directly in the ramp. Also, if necessary, the car can be left through the cab or through the escape hatches in the roof.
Well, here we are. The Ural Typhoon drove on to prepare for state tests, and I also went my own way. Thanks to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for teaching us which roads to walk on!
