The Russian army has begun deploying Terminator-2 tank support combat vehicles in Ukraine, according to a knowledgeable source cited by RIA Novosti. The report notes that BMPTs, working alongside tank formations, are taking part in the fire destruction of Ukrainian positions, armored vehicle teams, and anti-tank missile systems. The interlocutor suggested that the use of the Terminators in special operations could help refine tactical methods and determine their place within armored groups. This perspective aligns with lessons from recent wars and conflicts, which show that in dense urban terrain and rough landscapes, the most significant threats to armored units come from handheld anti-tank launchers and anti-tank guided missiles, rather than tanks alone.
Developers at Uralvagonzavod designed the Terminator as a vehicle to shield tanks from fighters equipped with RPGs and anti-tank systems. The machine was built on the chassis of the T-72 main battle tank in 2001, entering service a decade later in 2011. It is armed with the Ataka-T complex, which includes two rapid-fire 30 mm cannons, a PKTM 7.62 mm machine gun, two AGS-17D automatic grenade launchers, and anti-tank guided missiles (9M120-1) featuring a tandem HEAT warhead. The system also includes missiles with high-explosive volumetric detonating warheads (9M120-1F).
In 2018, ten Terminator BMPTs joined the 90th Guards Tank Vitebsk-Novgorod Division of the Central Military District, stationed in the Chelyabinsk Region with Chebarkul as the permanent deployment point. The “Terminator-2” was first showcased at the Army-2015 international military-technical forum, and production expanded from 2021 onward. The newer model introduces updated sighting equipment, including laser rangefinders, ballistic computers, and integrated television and thermal imaging channels, while reducing the crew from five to three.
There has been noticeable hesitation within the Russian defense sector about ordering and employing this vehicle. A spectrum of expert opinion has persisted, with many arguing that the BMPT should possess better detection and reconnaissance means to identify dangerous tank targets than the tanks themselves. In this regard, the Terminator’s capabilities in surveillance and fire control do not exceed the tank’s own systems. When it comes to firepower, the tank generally outperforms the BMPT, thanks to its 125 mm high-explosive fragmentation gun and the ability to launch ATGMs from the gun muzzle.
The Syrian campaign demonstrated the Terminator’s versatility as a city-focused tool in countering RPG and ATGM teams. In the current special military operation, Ukrainian forces reportedly deploy a broad range of anti-tank weapons, including FGM-148 Javelin, NLAW systems, M141 launcher devices, Carl-Gustaf M2/M3, Panzerfaust 3, and a spectrum of Western systems. U.S. estimates have emphasized the scale of anti-tank capabilities, suggesting multiple anti-tank platforms for each Russian tank. This context implies that Terminators could be highly valuable on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Analysts expect that the experience gained from BMPT usage in Ukraine will inform the factory where the BMPT was developed, guiding potential design adjustments in armored warfare concepts and potentially increasing the Terminator’s combat effectiveness. The ongoing assessment aims to refine how these vehicles are integrated into broader armored formations.
The discussion above reflects varied expert opinions and is presented to illuminate strategic considerations rather than to endorse a particular course of action.