The first nine BMPT-72 ‘Terminator’ tank support combat vehicles will enter service with armored units of the Central Military District’s 90th Guards Tank Division stationed in the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk Regions from December 1 after successful trials, Central Military District Commander Colonel-General Alexander Lapin announced on November 7.
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BMPT-72 "Terminator 2" displayed at Army-2019 defense forum near Kubinka (Picture source: Army Recognition)
"This year, we have successfully tested new methods of employing tank support combat vehicles in the 90th Tank Division and this has been a long-awaited event for us. We have thoroughly studied all the characteristics of these combat vehicles and I can say for certain after the tests and the operational evaluation that we held in June this year that the tank support combat vehicle is very effective and unrivaled by its firepower in this class of vehicles," the commander said. "We will now make a company of nine tank support combat vehicles operational in a tank regiment of the 90th Tank Division before the end of this year, by December 1, by a decision of the defense minister and on an instruction from the chief of the General Staff. In June next year, we will hold a larger operational evaluation exercise to explore the potential of employing a battalion of tank support combat vehicles," the general added. Work will also be carried out to look into the potential of a company of tank support combat vehicles for a motor rifle regiment, the commander added.
‘Terminator’ tank support combat vehicles arrived for the Urals Tank Division in December last year for operational evaluation and for the personnel to learn to operate the new armor.
BMPT-72 Terminator Tank Support Vehicle
The BMPT-72, nicknamed Terminator 2, is based on the chassis of the Russian-made main battle tank T-72. The vehicle offers new protection and firepower, especially in urban operations. The BMPT-72 is able to fight a full range of modern targets as main battle tanks, armored infantry fighting vehicles and other combat vehicles, dismounted infantry, and guided-missile combat teams.
The BMPT-72 or Terminator 2 is fitted with a new unmanned redesigned fully stabilized electromechanical turret, with a lower profile and better protection. The main armament of the BMPT-72 turret consists of two 30mm automatic guns 2A42 and one PKTM 7.62mm coaxial machine gun which can be used against light armored vehicles and manpower. Two anti-tank guided missile Ataka-T launcher units are mounted to each side of the turret. The missile 9M1201 can be equipped with two types of warheads, hollow-charge and high-explosive concrete-piercing. The BMPT-72 is equipped with a computerized fire control system with a multichannel sighting system and weapon high-accuracy laying systems.
The BMPT-72 or Terminator 2 has a crew of three while the first version of BMP-T had a crew of five. The hull and turret are made of steel armor and integrate the latest protection systems with explosive reactive armor (ERA) to the front of the turret, a detachable ERA module on the glacis plate and applique ERA on the sides of the hull and turret.
The BMPT-72 (Terminator 2) can be motorized with two types of engine, the original 850 hp B84MC or the new 1000 hp. B92C2 power plants, both are 12 cylinders V-type multi-fuel, liquid-cooled Diesel engines. The B92C2 is a turbo supercharger that offers higher power and efficiency. The engine is coupled to a hydraulically assisted transmission with 7 forward and 1 reverse gears. The BMPT-72 uses also an auxiliary power unit to extend mission endurance and run all systems on silent watch. The BMPT-72 is able to reach a maximum road speed of 60 km with a maximum cursing range of 500 km.
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