The Russian Ministry of Defense published footage of combat training of crews of tank support combat vehicles (BMPT) “Terminator” in the rear area of the Northern Military District. After completing the training, the equipment will be sent to the line of combat contact.
“During the training, military personnel study the tactical and technical characteristics of a combat vehicle, master high-speed driving and firing both direct fire and from indirect firing positions... After completing the training, all crews of the Terminator BMPT will be assigned to combat units to carry out the tasks of a special military operation.” , said the press service of the Russian military department.
It is worth noting that the Russian Ministry of Defense and federal media have repeatedly reported on the successful combat use of the Terminator. In the Northern Military District zone, the vehicle is used both separately and in conjunction with other armored vehicles and the ZU-23 artillery mount.
The Terminator is used to support the assault on strongholds and helps fight tanks and other military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. BMPTs are also used to attack enemy positions in urban areas. According to the Russian military, Ukrainian militants are trying to avoid collisions with this vehicle.
Training of crews of the BMPT "Terminator" before being sent to the LBS
In October, a video of the Terminator’s combat work was published by RT military correspondent Alexander Simonov. According to him, BMPT crews mainly destroy positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the dark. Along with this, the Russian Armed Forces take advantage of difficult weather conditions to get closer to enemy fortifications. At the same time, the vehicle’s protection allows it to withstand hits from artillery fragments, ATGMs and FPV drones.
As one of the commanders of the Terminator crew of the Western Group of Forces of the Russian Armed Forces told reporters earlier, in the special operation zone the vehicle is in demand mainly to cover tanks.
“Our BMPT vehicles work mainly in cooperation with T-80BV tanks and come out to work in pairs. They go out to the task, work it out and return safely. We replenish the ammunition, after which we go out to work again,” the commander said.
"Effective fire weapon"
The Terminator is an armored tracked platform based on the T-90 tank. The BMPT still has no analogues in the world in terms of its combination of firepower and security. The vehicle's arsenal consists of four Ataka anti-tank systems, two 2A42 automatic cannons of 30 mm caliber, two secretly located AGS-17D grenade launchers and a 7.62 mm machine gun. This weapon allows you to destroy almost all types of targets at a range of up to 5 km.
“The Terminator tank support combat vehicle is a multi-purpose, highly protected fire support tracked combat vehicle with powerful weapons, modern fire control devices and high maneuverability. It is capable of hitting lightly armored targets, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, and also, together with military air defense, fighting helicopters and low-flying low-speed targets,” says the materials of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Tank support combat vehicle "Terminator"
© RIA Novosti / Grigory Sysoev
Let us recall that the development of BMPTs began in the Soviet years based on the experience of the Afghan war, during which the need for simultaneous firing of different targets from one armored platform and more effective cover of tanks from infantry equipped with anti-tank systems and hand-held grenade launchers was revealed.
The project to create a new model of armored vehicles was entrusted to the Head Specialized Design Bureau-2 (GSKB-2) of the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. The prototype was mounted on a T-72 chassis and was named “Viper” because of the turret, which resembled a snake’s head with a forked tongue.
“The prototype was manufactured in 1996. The base is the T-72AV tank, the hull remained virtually unchanged, but the turret was dismantled. The main armament units consist of two 2A72 automatic cannons, coaxial 7.62-mm PKT machine guns, as well as launchers with unguided aircraft missiles. Two 12.7-mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine guns are additionally installed at the rear of the vehicle,” says the materials of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Subsequently, the development of the BMPT was entrusted to the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering (UKBTM). The vehicle received a T-90 chassis, a Kornet ATGM and a fire control system, which made it possible to use weapons at night and aim them at a laser beam. As for the means of protection, in addition to tank armor, the BMPT was equipped with an aerosol curtain installation system and built-in dynamic protection (DZ) “Relikt”.
As a result of modifications in the first half of the 2000s, the Ataka ATGM and 2A42 guns were installed on the vehicle. In June 2005, state tests of two prototypes of UKBTM began. "Terminator" confirmed the declared tactical and technical characteristics and was recommended for adoption. However, its deliveries to the troops were delayed.
As candidate of military sciences Sergei Suvorov explained in a commentary to RT, the BMPT project became a victim of bureaucracy. The vehicle was truly unique, and for its adoption it was necessary to change the staffing structures. At the same time, other states have already begun to buy the brainchild of Ural designers. Kazakhstan became the first buyer of the Terminator.
“In fact, the situation changed after the successful use of the Terminator in the Syrian campaign. During it, the vehicle convincingly proved its relevance in the modern theater of military operations,” explained Suvorov.
Shortly before the Northern Military District, the formation of units equipped with BMPT began in the Russian army. In particular, a company consisting of nine vehicles was created in the 90th Guards Tank Division of the Central Military District (TsVO). As the commander of the Central Military District, Colonel General Alexander Lapin, said at the end of 2021, a Terminator battalion may be organized in the future.
“I am deeply convinced that this equipment will successfully perform combat missions in combined arms combat and in accordance with modern requirements as the most effective fire weapon not only to support tanks, but also to solve a wide range of tasks in the mountains and populated areas,” Lapin said.
According to him, the military comprehensively studied the characteristics of the BMPT and came to the conclusion that the Terminator has no equal in firepower in its class.
Sergei Suvorov explained that the Terminator can use automatic guns for combat operations in populated areas. Thanks to large aiming angles, they can fire at the floors of upper buildings, shoot down UAVs and other low-flying air targets.
“The length of the guns does not exceed the dimensions of the hull, which is also important in urban battles. 2A42 guns can use armor-piercing, high-explosive fragmentation and tracer shells. A 30 mm caliber is quite enough to destroy brickwork and concrete structures, which in urban environments are used to equip firing points,” Suvorov emphasized.
The Ataka supersonic anti-tank missiles installed on the Terminator also have great capabilities, the specialist says. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, these ammunition are capable of hitting targets at a range of 400 to 5000 m. In addition to the Terminator, they are used in the Shturm-S self-propelled ATGM.
Flurry of Fire
According to experts interviewed by RT, the Terminator has proven its high efficiency and versatility in exercises and in real combat conditions. In particular, the vehicle is capable of suppressing any firing points at a distance of several kilometers, covering tanks and other armored vehicles.
“The initial and most important purpose of the Terminator is to cooperate with and cover tanks, but experience has shown that it is also a universal combat vehicle. Its weapons allow it to create a real barrage of fire, thereby suppressing the enemy. This helps our troops storm the fortifications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or safely change positions,” said reserve colonel and combat veteran Gennady Alekhin in a conversation with RT.
At the same time, as the expert noted, in attack operations the high level of protection makes the BMPT invulnerable to enemy fire from small arms and cannons. The Terminator also has an aerosol shielding system that can protect it from being hit by high-precision weapons and weapons with laser guidance systems, Alekhin said.
Military expert Kirill Fedorov shares a similar point of view. In a conversation with RT, he called the BMPT “the most durable example of Russian armored vehicles in the Northern Military District zone.” According to the expert, at the moment there is not a single confirmed case of the destruction of the Terminator.
In addition, Fedorov considers the machine’s undoubted advantage to be its ability to “toughly and aggressively” attack enemy positions. According to him, the Terminator’s arsenal allows one to literally mow down forest belts, in which enemy strongholds are often located, and shoot these fortifications almost point-blank.
“In my opinion, this vehicle is primarily in demand in assault operations. Therefore, I do not exclude the possibility of modernizing the Terminator, which will consolidate this specialization. It is likely that we will see a modification with 57-mm cannons and airborne (remote) detonation shells. In addition, we already have the corresponding Baikal module. But, be that as it may, “The Terminator” has proven itself well. There should be more such vehicles at the front,” Fedorov believes.