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“Terminator” Tanks – The BMPT Terminator

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Isabella White
“Terminator” Tanks – The BMPT Terminator

The BMPT Terminator weapon is located on an unmanned turret. This is the mighty BMPT, a Russian armored fighting vehicle armed to the teeth and specialized for anti-infantry and urban roles.


This is the mighty BMPT, a Russian armored fighting vehicle that is armed to the teeth and specialised for anti-infantry work in urban environments.


Sprawling with missiles, autocannons and grenade launchers, the BMPT has been given the unofficial nickname “Terminator”.

They are the result of lessons learned from high losses in urban warfare in the Soviet-Afghan War and actions in Chechnya.


BMPT “Terminator”

Uralvagonzavod continued on using hulls of T-90 MBTs. Their creation was named the BMPT (meaning Tank Support Fighting Vehicle).


It was first shown off to the public in 2000, when it was equipped with an unmanned turret containing a single 30 mm cannon and four 9M133 “Kornet” missiles.

However before long the turret received an extra 30 mm cannon and the Kornets were swapped with the more capable “Ataka” anti-tank guided missiles.


The vehicle was also fitted with two 30 mm grenade launchers and a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun.


As it is based on the hull of a main battle tank the BMPT Terminator is exceptionally well armored for its class, with steel, composite and explosive reactive armor present. In fact, with all of the crew in the hull it likely has better survivability than the MBT it is based on.


The interior is lined with Kevlar to prevent spalling when hit.


In the rear is a 1,000 hp diesel engine giving it a top speed of 37 mph.


The Russians tested the BMPT in 2005, which resulted in a number of contrasting reports that went from “its great, we’ll have it” to “we have no use for it”. Around this time the machine was nicknamed “Terminator” by the press for its imposing appearance.


Are they Worth it?


The BMPT Terminator series of vehicles are truly impressive machines, with enough guns and armor to make a battleship jealous. However, they have been in development in one way or another since the 1980s, which begs the question, are they worth it?


Judging by exports and Russia’s own actions, no.


It is never good for any machine to have such a long and protracted development as a military’s needs and desires are constantly changing. For the BMPT this has meant the military no longer know what they want from the vehicle, nor how to use it.


The BMPT Terminator was spotted in Ukraine, during Russia’s invasion of the country in February 2022. While they are known to be in the country, there has been very few sightings of them, with even fewer showing them in combat zones. This has suggested that Russia is either using very small numbers of them, or keeping the BMPT Terminator away from danger.

Still, despite its flaws and somewhat overambitious nature, the BMPT Terminator looks awesome, and for us tank lovers that is all that matters much of the time.

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Isabella White
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