ConflictsTerminator tank exposed: From battlefield superstar to costly flop

Terminator tank exposed: From battlefield superstar to costly flop

The heavy tank support combat vehicle Terminator was expected to protect and support Russian tanks in combat. Kremlin propaganda portrayed it as an exceptionally effective weapon, but the war in Ukraine has challenged its usefulness. The Terminator is not a superweapon but an impressive dud, as even the Russians admit.

BMPT Terminator
BMPT Terminator
Images source: © tass

10:07 AM EDT, October 13, 2024

The heavy tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) Terminator appears to be a machine capable of dominating the battlefield. Built on the chassis of the T-72 tank, it is reasonably well-armored, and thanks to an unmanned turret, the crew positions are located low in the hull, increasing their safety.

The BMPT Terminator is also heavily armed with two 30-mm cannons, two 40-mm grenade launchers, a machine gun, and four Ataka-T anti-tank guided missile launchers. This arsenal theoretically allows effective combat at distances ranging from a few dozen yards to several miles with any opponent—from tanks, various armored vehicles, to infantry soldiers.

The vehicle has the dimensions and mass of a tank, measuring about 24 feet in length and weighing 106,000 pounds, with a crew of five soldiers. The BMPT Terminator is also an excellent example of how misleading technical data tables can be.

This vehicle, which has no equivalents in the world, worked well in combat against Syrian militants, but in the conditions of the European battlefield, saturated with modern weapons, it turns out to be a spectacular, costly dud. On the pages of Wirtualna Polska, we have pointed this out for years, but now—after more than two years of war in Ukraine—even the Russians themselves admit it.

Heavily armed protection for Russian tanks

Where did the idea for such equipment come from? Attempts to build a vehicle with such characteristics appeared in the USSR as early as the 1980s. Based on experiences from Afghanistan, where self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery systems were used to fight opponents holding positions high on mountain slopes or canyon walls, capable of elevating their weapon barrels at a steep angle.

However, the direct cause for the creation of the Terminator is considered to be the first Chechen war. During the infamous New Year's Eve assault on Grozny at the turn of 1994 and 1995, Russian armored columns invaded the city, outpacing the infantry units covering them.

ZSU-23-4 Shilka set in Ukraine
ZSU-23-4 Shilka set in Ukraine© warfare history network

The unshielded tanks and other armored vehicles were shot down among the urban buildings by Chechen units using simple, hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers. In just a few dozen hours, the Russians lost almost 1,500 soldiers, as well as around 180 tanks and other armored vehicles.

The course of the fighting also showed that anti-aircraft systems with rapid-firing cannons, such as the ZSU-23-4 Shilka or 2K22 Tunguska, were very effective in repelling Chechen attacks. However, because they were poorly armored, they were quickly destroyed.

Damaged Russian tanks on the streets of Grozny
Damaged Russian tanks on the streets of Grozny© Facebook, tank force community

Based on these experiences, the Russians decided to develop a vehicle that—armored as well as tanks—could accompany them in combat, providing support and protection. This is how the heavy tank support combat vehicle Terminator was created.

Syria and Ukraine – different combat experiences

Despite appearances, the construction of the Terminator is not an example of the power of the Russian industry but a testament to its weakness. To support their own tanks, the Russians needed a special, separately designed vehicle that fulfills a role similar to that of modern Western infantry fighting vehicles.

BMPT Terminator. Heavy tank support fighting vehicles are fighting in Ukraine.
BMPT Terminator. Heavy tank support fighting vehicles are fighting in Ukraine.© mil.ru

Instead of a large arsenal, in their case, a single 30-40 mm cannon is adequate next to the anti-tank missile launchers—however, one that shoots programmable ammunition, equipped with a modern fire control system with good sensors and effective stabilization, allowing for accurate fire on the move.

Although the combat debut of the Terminator in Syria seemed successful, its use in the war in Ukraine brought vastly different experiences. The Terminator—whose firepower cannot be disputed—proved surprisingly inept in combat.

As noted by the author of the Topwar.ru website, Yevgeny Fedorov, this partly results from the change in the tactics of Russian tank warfare. These, contrary to their intended purpose, began to function as "sniper artillery," fighting away from direct threats from Ukrainian infantry.

Why isn't the BMPT Terminator a good weapon?

At the same time, tanks are usually protected by more or less effective "space armor" in the form of roofs, nets, or grates, hindering attacks by FPV drones. Meanwhile, the Terminator—if it wants to maintain its capabilities—cannot cover the turret. This leads to another problem.

As noted by the Russian author, the main armament of the tank, and even some of its sensors, are protected by the solid armor of the turret. Meanwhile, the Terminator's sensors and weapons are in an external, unmanned module. They are susceptible to damage not just from direct hits but also from nearby explosions.

As a result, even inaccurate shelling is enough for the Terminator, due to electronic failures, to become "blind and deaf," making it unable to continue fighting and vulnerable to destruction. To make matters worse, the Terminator is only slightly cheaper than a main battle tank yet harder to repair and produce. Although it uses a popular tank chassis, this chassis requires significant modifications.

The large crew is also a problem. To fully utilize its firepower, the BMPT Terminator must be manned by a 5-person crew, with two soldiers operating the 40-mm grenade launchers. The author of the Topwar.ru website poses the question of whether it's better to train five crews (15 people) for universal tanks or three crews for a vehicle that may only be useful in certain circumstances.

BMPT Terminator – Putin's parade equipment

All this makes the BMPT Terminator—although in theory, it is a powerful weapon—essentially a military shell. Its significance, initially emphasized by pro-Kremlin media, has not been confirmed on the battlefield.

Thus, the heavy tank support combat vehicle joins the long list of "Putin's parade equipment"—weapons presented by Russian propaganda as the best in the world and spectacularly displayed at military parades, but in the conditions of the Ukrainian battlefield, proved ineffective.

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