Russian Central District completes first stage of BMPT Terminator tank support vehicle operational evaluation.

The first stage of the operational evaluation of BMPT-72 fire support combat vehicles has been completed at the training range of the Central Military District’s Guards armored division in the Chelyabinsk Region in the Urals, the Defense Ministry’s press office said : “During the operational evaluation that started on December 1, 2020, the crews held drills to practice driving and undergo gunnery and technical training”.
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BMPT-72 Terminator (Picture source: Army Recognition)

“Special attention was paid to studying the specifics of the BMPT vehicle’s controls and weapons. The operational evaluation also involved representatives of the manufacturing plant to provide any necessary assistance,” the press office added. During the next stage, the BMPT vehicle will be used for live-firing in various tactical situations as part of armored units.

It was reported in December 2020 that the Central Military District’s Guards armored division had received a batch of eight BMPT tank support combat vehicles for operational evaluation. Motor rifle units being rearmed are undergoing conversion training to operate the new military hardware.

The BMPT was made operational with the Russian Army in 2018. The first batch of 10 vehicles of the type was delivered to the armed forces the same year.

Russia's military expressed its interest in the Terminator tank support vehicle (BMPT) developed by the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Machine-Building (UKBTM, a subsidiary of Rostec's Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) research-and manufacturing corporation) at the Army-2017 international military-technical forum, and the relevant contract with UVZ for the BMPT was signed. This is the first case of the Terminator acquisition for the Land Forces. Previously, UKBTM was trying to spark this interest presenting Terminator-1 and its updated modification, Terminator-2, at various defense shows. However, Russia's Ministry of Defense (MoD) gave the cold shoulder to the vehicles, while the lack of the operational status substantially impacted its export outlook. Only Kazakhstan acquired a batch of BMPTs.

The Terminator is a large step forward compared with the modified Shilka SPAAG and the Tunguska SPAAGM (in the anti-personnel role). The newest vehicle features a tank-level armour reinforced with additional means, while its armament suite allows engagement of both infantry and heavily protected targets in an effective manner.

The BMPT-72 (Terminator-2) fire support vehicle is based on the chassis of the T-72 MBT. According to the official catalogue of the UVZ corporation, it has a full weight of no more than 44 t (+2%), an overall length of 7.2 m, an overall width of 3.6 m and an overall height of 3.2 m. The vehicle's crew totals three servicemen (a commander, an operator and a driver). The BMPT-72 has a maximum road speed of 60 km/h and a cruising range of 550 km (with external fuel tanks). The vehicle's armament suite incorporates two 30 mm 2A42 coaxial automatic cannons with an ammunition load of 850 rounds, a semi-automatic laser beam-guided missile system with four ready-to-launch guided missiles and a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov PKTM machinegun with an ammunition load of 2,100 cartridges.

The BMPT Terminator is designed to suppress enemy's anti-tank (AT) manpower armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers, man-portable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems and small arms and to engage main battle tanks (MBT), infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), light armoured targets, helicopters and low-flying low-speed fixed-wing aircraft. The Terminator has revealed its potential in Syria. Russia's designers on-site decided to introduce the required changes to its construction on the base of the analysis of the combat experience.