Sudanese Army Reportedly Destroys Rare Russian "Federal-M" Armored Vehicle

The Sudanese army has destroyed a rare Russian armored vehicle, the “Federal-M,” which was utilized by paramilitary group “Rapid Support Forces.”

Photos of the destroyed vehicle were shared online by local residents, reports Militarnyi.

During the fighting for the capital, Khartoum, government forces conducted a military operation in the Al-Lamap area, pushing back parts of the “Rapid Support Forces” and destroying their equipment, including one “Federal-M” armored vehicle.

The vehicle suffered significant damage, reportedly from an anti-tank grenade that struck the armored glass on the left door.

This marks the first known appearance of this armored vehicle in the country amid the ongoing civil war between pro-government forces and the “Rapid Support Forces,” which are backed by Russia and mercenaries from the Wagner Group.

The only reference to the export of “Federals” dates back to 2013, when it was announced that a batch of these vehicles was produced for a North African country.

The “Federal-M” is a mine-protected armored vehicle developed by the Moscow-based company “Institute of Special Technologies.” It is designed for transporting personnel in areas with a high risk of ambush.

Structurally, the vehicle features a frame construction based on the Ural-4320 truck, with a single armored capsule that has a U-shaped bottom to dissipate blast energy.

Ukrainian defense forces encountered an earlier version of this vehicle, called the “Federal,” in the initial days of the Russian invasion, where they were used by units of the Russian internal troops.