MOSCOW, Dec 8-RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. Armed, protected and versatile — the first joint exercises of tanks and combat vehicles created to support them, the Terminator BMPT, took place at one of the training grounds near Chelyabinsk. They advanced in line with the T-72 of the guards division of the Central military district and demonstrated impressive firepower. About the features of this technique - in the material RIA Novosti.
The Chechen experience
In the video published by the Ministry of defense, the "Terminators" are just behind the main chain, in the gaps between heavy armored vehicles. And while the tanks are firing 125-millimeter guns, the BMPT crews are carefully examining the battlefield. As soon as they notice the soldiers of the "enemy", they open a heavy fire from twin 30-mm guns. This is the main task of the "Terminators": to cover tanks from infantry armed with grenade launchers and ATGMs.
The development of BMPT began in the 1980s, but the project was taken seriously only after the first Chechen campaign. The storming of Grozny in January 1995 showed that tanks are extremely vulnerable in battles with infantry. The militants who were holed up on the upper floors of buildings easily destroyed the armored vehicles of the Federal forces, breaking through the relatively thin armor in the upper projection with grenade launchers.
Infantry, which was intended to protect tanks from enemy anti-tank Riflemen, Dudayev successfully cut off machine-gun and sniper fire. It became obvious: for urban battles, an armored combat vehicle with large angles of vertical aiming of the main weapon is necessary.
Run-In By Syria
The first prototype of the BMPT under the designation "Object 199" Frame " appeared in 2001. This car has a difficult fate. For many years, the Ministry of defense for various reasons — mainly financial — refused to accept it for service.
Terminator-3 BMPT fire support vehicle during the Army-2017 military-technical forum"
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Mikhail Voskresensky
They planned to create one company of BMPT, but this equipment did not go to the troops. The command stated that it refuses to purchase new vehicles, as well as to convert outdated tanks for this project. Ten BMPs were sold to Kazakhstan.
Nevertheless, the Terminators were regularly shown at various international arms exhibitions. And in the summer of 2017, several BMPs were sent to Syria on a combat mission. One car under a camouflage net, in particular, "lit up" on the base Hamim. Military "Terminator" were satisfied: it was reported that BMPT was actively used in offensive operations against is militants*.
And the Ministry of defense still decided to accept the "Terminators" for service. In 2018, new cars even participated in the Victory parade on red square. Soon the equipment arrived in military units, in particular in the 90th guards tank division. Further purchases will be decided based on the results of pilot operation.
Universal soldier
The terminator is based on the T-72 main battle tank. The same reservation, reinforced, however, by modern dynamic protection "Relic". The armament block is located in the aft part of the tower, and the ammunition is placed outside the reserved volume. It is believed that the BMPT is not invulnerable to infantry anti-tank weapons. The crew — five people, as in the self-propelled artillery installation "Msta-S". This is primarily due to the fact that the" Terminator " is armed literally to the teeth. The BMPT is a kind of"land destroyer".
Tank support vehicle (BMPT) "Terminator" on Tverskaya street before the start of the rehearsal of the military parade dedicated to the 74th anniversary of the victory In the great Patriotic war
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Evgeny Samarin
The main armament is a twin 30 mm 2A42 automatic gun (they are also installed on BMP-2, BTR-82A and helicopter gunships)with 900 rounds of ammunition. In addition to the guns, the turret has a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. On the sides of the tower — two armored casing, each with two transport and launch containers with guided anti-tank missiles 9M120-1 "Attack"with an effective range of six kilometers. Finally, in the front of the hull — two course automatic grenade launchers AG-17D for firing at infantry fragmentation ammunition.
The crew effectively uses all this Arsenal thanks to the modern automatic fire control system "Frame", equipped with a digital ballistic computer and automatic target tracking. The gunner's sight is equipped with everything necessary for round-the-clock operation: thermal and optical channels, ATGM guidance equipment, laser rangefinder. The range of targets available to the Terminator is extremely wide — infantry, tanks, light armored vehicles, low-flying helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and field fortifications.
Future of the project
The first versions of BMPT were often criticized in the expert community. One of the main complaints about the "Terminator" was its weak "vision". It was assumed that the new vehicles would be able to see more on the battlefield than heavy armored vehicles. However, the surveillance equipment and sighting systems on the early BMPT and main battle tanks were absolutely identical. In addition, many doubted that the Terminators could completely replace the infantry as the main defenders of armored vehicles on the battlefield. However, modern versions of BMPT are much more "eye-catching".
Terminator tank support vehicle at the rehearsal of the military parade on red square dedicated to the 73rd anniversary of victory In the great Patriotic war
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Evgeny Biyatov
Judging by the defense Ministry's personnel, the military gave preference to the first "Terminator". The second version, introduced in 2013, carried less weapons — automatic grenade launchers were removed from it and the crew was reduced to three people. The Russian customer was not interested in this modernization, but there were buyers in Algeria. They ordered more than 300 BMPT "Terminator-2".
It is still unclear when Terminator 3 will appear. Back in 2016, Oleg Sienko, General Director of Uralvagonzavod, told RIA Novosti that the Corporation had developed a concept for the development of vehicles based on the latest Armata platform consisting of 28 units of advanced weapons, including air defense and heavy armored vehicles. These include BMPT. Little is known about the future car yet. But it was reported, in particular, that instead of 30-millimeter guns, a more powerful 57-millimeter gun will be installed.
