In the Central Military District, the first full-time company was formed with Terminator tank support combat vehicles. It included nine BMPT. The new equipment will be used in large-scale exercises that will take place next year: they will study the use of a battalion of tank support combat vehicles.
RIA Novosti reported on the formation of the first company from the Terminator BMPT with reference to Colonel-General Alexander Lapin. The unit was formed in the Central Military District (CVO). In June 2022, large-scale exercises will take place, where the use of the BMPT battalion will be studied.
The Central Military District stated that before that, the Terminator had been put into trial operation and had been mastered by military personnel.
Transportation of BMPT
Image source: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The Terminator is a multi-purpose, well-protected combat tracked vehicle with powerful weapons, modern fire control devices and high maneuverability. It can fight lightly armored targets, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, as well as, together with military air defense, resist helicopters and low-flying aircraft.
The first full-time company on Terminators was formed in the Central Military District / ©Zvezda
In its current form, the Terminator is closer in armament to the main battle tanks (MBT) than to the IFV. Instead of the usual 125-millimeter tank weapons, it carries two 30-millimeter cannons, which, combined with anti-tank guided missiles, provides very high firepower.
At the same time, the concept is often criticized, pointing out that the tank support combat vehicle de facto simply duplicates the MBT, without having decisive advantages. It is also noted that the presence of completely different samples in the army complicates their operation.
Recall that now the Russian Armed Forces use various modifications of the T-72, T-80 and T-90 tanks. Last year, the army received the first T-90M equipped with a fundamentally new tower with better protection. In addition, deliveries of a new generation T-14 tank based on Armata are beginning. In August, it was reported that the first 20 cars will be delivered by the end of the year. The T-14 will be mass-produced next year.
T-90M
Image source: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Earlier, the media talked about the creation of a new tank support combat vehicle based on Armata. Allegedly, they want to arm it with two 57-millimeter guns, which will provide the BMPT with much higher firepower compared to existing analogues.
However, it will be able to compete with the promising Chinese fire support combat vehicle QN-506. The sample shown a few years ago received, among other things, twenty 70-millimeter QN-201 missiles and four anti-tank guided missiles with a combined control mode.