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Key Points: The Russian BMPT-72 “Terminator,” a heavily armed fire support vehicle, was designed to assist tanks and APCs in combat. Built on T-72 and T-90 tank chassis, the Terminator boasts formidable firepower, including twin 30mm autocannons, guided missiles, and grenade launchers.

Terminator Tank from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

-Despite its theoretical advantages, including survivability in urban and forested environments, its performance in Ukraine has been underwhelming due to poor integration into Russian strategy and vulnerabilities to artillery and modern battlefield threats.

-While an improvement over aging BMPs and BTRs, the BMPT-72 has yet to make a decisive impact in the war.

BMPT-72 Terminator: A Game Changer or Another Russian Misstep?

BMPs are tracked Soviet-era armored vehicles, while the BTR is a wheeled armored personnel carrier. I once got these mixed up during a war game briefing to a commanding officer, and I was corrected harshly with some creative curse words from him in front of everybody. That’s why I am so interested in the BMPT-72 Terminator as to what kind of armored vehicle this is. 

The name jolts your memory to recall the Arnold Schwarzenegger movies that predicted a deadly dystopia where humans were hunted down into extinction by killer robots.

The BMPT-72 Terminator 1 and 2s are considered “fire support vehicles” that can protect tanks and armored personnel carriers in combat situations.

 They come in handy during battles around trenches and bunkers. 

Send Them to the Front in Ukraine

Russia ordered Terminator 2 to battle in September and the Russians desperately need some armored vehicle that can place them over the top. They could use a spark that can light a fire and support armored attacks that have been so costly to the Russians in men and military hardware. Morale should definitely improve if the BMPT-72 is successful while taking the fight to the enemy.

Heavy Firepower Comes Standard

The first thing you notice about the Terminator 2 is the two twin 30mm 2A42 Shipunov autocannons with a turret that has a very low silhouette. These cannons can fire armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds. Next are the four 9M120 Ataka anti-tank guided missile launchers, which can also take out bunkers. Then, there is a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun and automatic grenade launchers. This should be deadly to Ukrainian tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Mult-dimensional for Different Terrain

The idea for the Terminators is to help the Russians fight better in urban or forested terrain. They are designed to take out enemy infantry positions where Ukrainian soldiers are waiting with anti-tank missiles, RPGs, and drones. The BMPT-72 could also provide support or reconnaissance duties for T-72 tanks and T-90M tanks which need a better screen and additional supportive and protective fire during armored assaults.

The Terminator Is Not Setting the World On Fire

ArmyRecognition.com said that even though the BMPT-72 looks great on paper and in photos, it has endured problems during the war.

“Its actual performance in Ukraine has been met with mixed results. While the BMPT’s firepower and armor were considered assets in specific engagements, there were reports that the vehicle was not used in large numbers or in an optimal role. One of the reasons for this is that the Russian military might not have fully integrated the BMPT into their combined arms strategy. Additionally, the conflict in Ukraine has shown that modern battlefield environments, especially in urban settings, are extremely lethal for armored vehicles, even with support vehicles like the BMPT present,” the defense website said.

Sits on Existing Tanks Chassis for Easy Conversion

One neat thing about the BMPT-72 is that it comes in two models based on Russian arsenal tanks. The BMPT-72 1 is built on the T-90 chassis, and BMPT-72 2 is molded on the T-72. That means the BMPT-72 1 and 2 could be produced at the same facility, and the fire support vehicles can be converted from old tank chassis without too much effort or cost.

This Armor Should Be Survivable

Both models have strong armor, but the BMPT-1 has Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor that provides better survivability against advanced anti-tank missiles and RPGs. The cannons can be elevated more than on the Soviet-era APCs, which makes them different from the guns on regular BMPs and BTRs. This feature was designed because many of the older infantry fighting vehicles were attacked from up high either from mountain ridges in Afghanistan or from roofs in urban battle during the Chechen wars.

Ukraine Is Laughing at the Terminators

One problem with the Terminator armored fighting vehicles is that they can be destroyed by artillery, like tanks. A Terminator was taken out in this manner near Kreminna, Luhansk, on February 9, 2023.

The Ukrainians had a public relations win with this destruction, crowing on Facebook, “So, we see that this allegedly ‘invincible’ and ‘unique’ combat vehicle burns just as well as the rest of Russian scrap metal.” The Ukrainian Marines also used Schwarzenegger’s famous line from Terminator 2: Judgement Day, “Hasta la vista, baby!”

While Terminator 1 and 2 have endured mixed results in the war, the newer armored vehicles are a good idea. BMPs and BTRs are outdated and easy to destroy. 

The Russians needed something better and BMPT-72s are definitely a step up – it’s just that all tanks and armored fighting vehicles are at a disadvantage during this war. 

No tactic works against anti-tank-guided missiles, drones, and artillery. We’ll keep an eye on the BMPT-72 but don’t expect it to make a decisive change to the current stalemate between Russia and Ukraine.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.