Russia’s BMPT Terminator ‘Tank’ Might Have No Future

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Key Points: Russia’s BMPT “Terminator” is designed to bolster armored assaults by pairing anti-tank missiles, autocannons, and grenade launchers on a T-72-based chassis.

-The hybrid vehicle aims to protect tanks in close combat by fielding heavy firepower typically handled by dismounted infantry.

-Despite the vehicle’s advanced design and possible link to Armata-class technologies, only 19 have reportedly entered service, limiting its actual impact.

-Russia’s broader shortage of high-tech assets—exemplified by a small Su-57 stealth jet fleet and constrained hypersonic inventory—further diminishes the BMPT’s operational utility.

-Overall, the Terminator’s limited numbers and Russia’s wider production challenges hamper its battlefield effectiveness.

Russia’s BMPT ‘Terminator’: A Game-Changer or Overhyped Tank-Support Vehicle?

Russia’s BMPT “Terminator” combat vehicle aims to enhance armored formations with firepower to support tanks in mechanized assaults. Featuring anti-tank guided missiles, a 30mm autocannon, and grenade launchers, it’s a hybrid of a tank and infantry fighting vehicle.

However, with only 19 units reportedly produced, the BMPT’s battlefield impact is limited by a lack of mass deployment. Despite its advanced features, including technologies borrowed from the T-14 Armata, production constraints and Russia’s broader numbers problem in modernized military assets hinder its effectiveness in large-scale conflict scenarios.

As a single “tank supporting” armed combat vehicle, Russia’s BMPT “Terminator” could present a threat to the West as an armored platform in position to fortify mechanized assault with supportive fire to tanks attacking in maneuver formations. 

Public reports say the so-designated “Terminator” Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) armaments include anti-tank guided missiles(ATGMs), a 30mm autocannon, a grenade launcher and a coaxial 7.62 machine gun. It is reported that the vehicle’s chassis is loosely based on a Russian T-72 tank. 

However, looking at available images of the vehicle would suggest the armored platform is more of a tank-infantry fighting vehicle hybrid. Its chassis resembles a Bradley Fighting Vehicle to some extent. It has a tank or tank-like configuration. An interesting Army Recognition essay from 2018 cites the Russian Ministry of Defense stating the BMPT’s armor protection was comparable to a tank and that the design incorporated some technologies woven into its advanced T-14 Armata tank. 

A US Army public description of the AFV BMPT-72 Terminator published by Training and Doctrine Command says the vehicle is “armed with Ataka-T Guided Weapon System armed with four 9M120 Ataka missile launchers, two 30 mm 2A42 autocannons, two AG-17D grenade launchers, and one coaxial 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun.”

The more advanced BMPT-72 variant, the TRADOC description explains, is based upon the Armata’s Universal Combat Platform and has an automatic gun turret and integrated air systems. 

Close-In Armored Attack?

Given these variables, many are likely to wonder about the tactical significance of a vehicle such as this. Can it deliver infantry under armor like the Bradley? Perhaps it can simply bring additional land-attack firepower to heavy armored formations?

It might make sense, as tanks operate with larger caliber, longer-range cannons for farther-out targets. If a mechanized formation moved closer to enemy forces, weapons such as anti-tank-guided missiles and grenade launchers fired by a BMPT could bring a substantial land-combat advantage.

This land advantage would be especially true in a circumstance where it simply was not safe or survivable for dismounted infantry to disperse in support of tank formations; additional ATGM kinds of anti-armor weapons would, in this case, perhaps be better delivered by an armored vehicle, such as a BMPT. 

Enough to Mass? 

Built by The Uralvagonzavod research-and-manufacturing corporation, the vehicles began to arrive in 2018, yet manufacturing doesn’t seem to be up to scale. 

The tactical challenge associated with a BMPT may relate to a numbers problem. There might not be enough vehicles to bring impactful combat-relevant firepower and support to Russian tanks.

Available reports say there are only 19 BMPTs in existence, so few BMPTs would make it very difficult for Russia to “mass” armored formations capable of sustaining forward attack. 

Russia does have large numbers of tanks. However, they continue to be decimated by Ukrainian forces and appear to operate with marginal levels of modernized weaponry.

Overall, Russia’s military generally seems to suffer from a numbers problem. There appear to be several weapons systems and technologies incorporating exquisite or potentially advanced technologies, yet they don’t seem to exist in sufficient numbers.  

For example, Russia is known to operate only a small number of Su-57s, and many are likely to wonder just how many hypersonic weapons or new missiles Russia can operate.

Questions arise whether Russia has the industrial capacity to build them.

Russia may possess advanced hypersonic weapons such as its Avangard, Kinzhal, or Tsirkon, yet one must wonder just how many Russia has produced. Russia’s new Oreshnik may also present a formidable threat, but many believe that few have been produced.

Sun Tzu’s famous “mass matters” principle remains accurate and relevant in any major land war. Can the Russians build and sustain an armored fleet capable of challenging NATO in a ground war? That does not seem likely.

Therefore, however capable a BMPT may be as an armored platform to support tanks in a mechanized formation, the actual impact in any ground war is likely marginal. 

About the Author: Kris Osborn 

Kris Osborn is the Military Technology Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.