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Analysis Fire support vehicles BMP-T and BMPT-72 of Russian defense industry TASS 10302173

Military Defense Industry Technology - Russian fire support vehicles

Analysis: Fire support vehicles BMP-T and BMPT-72 of Russian defense industry.

Russian defense industry has developed and manufactured fire support vehicles BMPT and BMPT-72 based on the chassis of T-72 main battle tanks to increase fire power and combat capabilities of dismounted troops. This type of vehicle is armed with automatic cannon and anti-tank guided missiles able to destroy a wide range of modern military threats on the battlefield.

Russian defense industry has developed and manufactured fire support vehicle BMPT and BMPT-72 based on the chassis of T-72 main battle tanks to increase fire power and combat capabilities of dismounted troops. This type of vehicle is armed with automatic cannon and anti-tank guided missiles able to destroy a wide range of modern military threats on the battlefield.

Russian-made BMPT-72 Terminator 2 fire support vehicle

The Russian defense industry under the umbrella of Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-run arms exporter company promotes fire support vehicles, BMP- T Terminator 1 and BMPT-72 Terminator 2 for the international military market.

The BMPT-72 vehicle was developed to support tank and motorized riflemen units. It is based on the chassis of the T-72 main battle tank (MBT) and features protection that is similar to the one of MBTs. BMPT-72 has an armament suite that provides detecting and eliminating of small-sized camouflaged targets. Modern target search-and-detection systems, an automatized fire control system, a powerful multichannel automatic weapons suite, and all-aspect protection of the crew allows BMPT-72 to accomplish fire support missions in all types of combat environment and in complex geographical areas, by day and night, against any enemy.

BMPT-72 is produced using phased-out-of-service T-72 MBTs. Obsolete T-72 tanks that are not supposed to be upgraded due to the economic ineffectiveness of such a modernization can be rebuilt into BMPT-72 vehicles. The rebuilding process comprises the replacement of tank turret by the BMPT combat module with remote controlled weapons (automatic cannons, a machinegun, and guided missiles) located in a separate structure, as well as the repairing and upgrade (at customer`s request) of the chassis. The works to rebuild T-72s into BMPT-72s can be performed at customer`s production facilities.

The main armament of the BMPT-72 consists of two 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannons that fire high-explosive and armour-piercing rounds. The guided weapon system incorporates two launchers with four ready-to-launch guided missiles armed with high-explosive anti-tank or thermobaric warheads. The vehicle can fire the missiles on the move by day and night. It also carries a coaxial 7.62 mm machinegun.

The uses of tank chassis provides BMPT-72 an high level of the vehicle`s protection and allows it to accomplish missions in tank formations under enemy`s fire. The protection suite of BMPT-72 incorporates basic armour, integrated explosive reactive armour, an automated smoke screening system, additional bar-slat armour, a camouflage painting, and a low visual signature.

Russian-made BMP-T Terminator 1 fire support vehicle first version.

The BMP-T Terminator 1 fire support vehicle is designed to provide fire support to tank and motorized riflemen units and to detect and eliminate low-observable and scattered targets (primarily, enemy`s manpower equipped with small arms and anti-tank weapons) on the battlefield. It features an armament suite that allows destructing of heavy-protected platforms (tanks and tank-based vehicles), fortifications, and aerial targets. However, the detection of low-observable targets and their well-timed elimination are the primary tasks set before the BMPT fire support vehicle.

The BMP-T Terminator 1 can be used in tank formations or separately. A tank unit equipped with BMPTs features advanced efficiency, as enemy`s well-protected vehicles and fortifications are destroyed by MBTs, while manpower, anti-tank-systems, and soft-skin vehicles by BMPTs. The separate usage of fire support vehicles envisages dismounted troops combat efficiency boosting, conveys securing and escorting, and eliminating of terrorists.

The armament of the BMP-T Terminator 1 includes two 30 mm 2A42 dual-axis stabilized automatic cannons with an ammunition load of 850 rounds, a 7.62 mm PKT machinegun with an ammunition load of 2,000 rounds, four anti-tank laser-guided missiles, and two 30 mm automatic grenade launchers with an ammunition load of 600 grenades.

The BMP-T Terminator 1 features advanced protection suite that shield the crew from anti-tank munitions. BMPT has tank-level basic armour. Its front part is not weakened by a firing port intended for tank gun. The sides of the vehicle are additionally protected by explosive reactive armour. The BMPT`s protection suite actually exceeds the tank`s one. The rear part of the vehicle features bar-slat armour.