According to Serhiy Prytula on September 27, 2023, Ukrainian soldiers associated with the Mutant group, a unit that is part of the Security Service of Ukraine, have employed crowdfunded First Person View (FPV) drones to neutralize a Russian BMP-T Terminator Model 2017 Fire Support Combat Vehicle near the village of Spartak in the Donetsk region, a region known for being the scene of night-time operations by these heavily armed vehicles.
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Despite its cope cage and its formidable weaponry, this BMP-T Terminator was still neutralized by a Ukrainian drone (Picture source: Twitter and Russian social media)
This incident marks the second recorded destruction of such a heavily armored vehicle, with a third loss occurring when a prior attack damaged a similar vehicle in the same vicinity in August 2023. However, it remains uncertain whether the damaged vehicle from the previous month was the same one, as there is no concrete evidence to support this hypothesis. The possibility that the damaged vehicle was replaced with another example cannot be ruled out.
The BMP-T Model 2017, currently in service with the Russian army, represents a fusion of the original BMP-T/Terminator 1 and the advanced armament of the BMP-T72/Terminator 2. Manufactured by Uralvagonzavod, a Russian main battle tank producer, this fire support vehicle has been engineered to enhance firepower and support capabilities for both tank and motorized rifle units.
Equipped with a formidable array of weaponry, the Terminator Model 2017 fulfills its role as a fire support vehicle effectively. It boasts two 30mm automatic 2A42 guns and one PKTM 7.62mm coaxial machine gun as its primary armament, offering firepower against light armored vehicles and infantry targets. Additionally, the vehicle features two Ataka-T anti-tank guided missile launchers on each side of the turret, carrying 9M1201 missiles with hollow-charge or high-explosive concrete-piercing warheads.
This arsenal empowers the BMP-T Model 2017 to engage a wide spectrum of targets on the battlefield, including heavily armored platforms such as tanks and fortified positions. Coupled with advanced sighting systems and exceptional mobility, this vehicle stands as an asset for supporting tank and motorized rifle units in diverse combat scenarios.
Standard equipment for the BMPT-T encompasses features, including an NBC protection system, a 5 kW diesel generator enclosed within an armored compartment on the right side of the hull, and an automatic two-shot fire detection and suppression system. The vehicle's fire control system relies on a multifaceted sight, merging optical and thermal imaging channels, along with a panoramic low-profile thermal imaging sight. This configuration enables both the gunner and commander to detect and identify small-sized targets at considerable distances, regardless of lighting conditions or adverse climates. Furthermore, the BMPT is equipped with a laser detection system.
The BMP-T Model 2017 is powered by a rear-mounted 1,000-horsepower multifuel diesel engine, sharing the same chassis as the T-72 main battle tank and incorporating a torsion bar suspension system. With six road wheels on each side, an idler at the front, a drive sprocket at the rear, and three return rollers supporting the inside of the track, the vehicle exhibits capabilities. It can traverse ditches measuring 2.6 to 2.8 meters wide, surmount walls up to 0.85 meters in height, and navigate water obstacles with depths of up to 1.2 meters. These components collectively contribute to the vehicle's maneuverability across a spectrum of terrains, ensuring mobility and agility during combat operations.
The BMP-T Terminator, in all variants, is one of the most heavily armed vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces (Picture source: Russian social media)
