Russia Deploys Terminator Tank In Ukraine – Free PDF Download

What has happened?

• Russia, according to Western intelligence inputs, has deployed the Terminator tank support system – the BMPT, also known as the BMPT ‘Terminator’, and its new version the BMPT-72 –
• In an area that remains its immediate tactical priority in the Ukraine war.

What is the Terminator?

• The Terminator or the Boyevaya Mashina Podderzhki Tankov (BMPT), is a tank support fighting vehicle developed by Russia.
• Western military analysts believe that Russia developed the Terminator after identifying the need to provide dedicated protection to main battle tanks it used during the Afghan and the Chechen wars.
• The tank support vehicles are designed to protect the Russian tanks against enemy infantry.
• They are basically a replacement for mechanised infantry troops in the urban battlefield.
• The high-level of attrition suffered by the Russian tanks in the ongoing war in Ukraine due to the use of anti-tank weapons provided by the West appears to have pushed Russian military commanders to induct the Terminator.
• The move is aimed at providing close protection to the Russian armour from Ukrainian tank-hunting infantry.

Where have the Russians deployed it?

• According to the latest intelligence bulletin released by the British Ministry of Defence on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,
• Russia’s only operational company of BMP-T Terminator tank support vehicles has likely been deployed to the Severodonetsk axis of the Donbas offensive.
• According to the British appreciation of intelligence inputs and several independent sightings of the Terminators, their presence suggests that the Central Grouping of Forces (CGF) is involved in this attack – which is the only Russian army formation fielding this vehicle.

• The CGF, as per the British MoD bulletin, previously suffered heavy losses while failing to break through to eastern Kyiv during the first phase of the invasion.
• As of now, the Severodonetsk area remains one of Russia’s immediate tactical priorities.
• But with a maximum of ten Terminators deployed, they are unlikely to have a significant impact on the campaign.

Weapons with the Terminator?

• The list of potent weaponry that Terminator is equipped with includes 4×130 mm Ataka-T GWS launchers, 2×30 mm 2A42 autocannons (850 rounds), 2×30 mm AG-17D or 2x AGS-30 grenade launchers (600 rounds), 1×7.62 mm PKTM machine gun (2,000 rounds).
• These weapons are capable of firing in multiple directions in quick succession, thus suppressing firepower to prevent any attempt to take out the tank columns being protected.
• The BMPT destroys targets such as infantry personnel carrying anti-tank weapons, as well as lightly and heavily armoured targets, like tanks.
• The BMPT can be put to alternate uses too and can provide protection to infantry or to convoys.

Other features

• The Terminator’s latest upgrade is equipped with fragmenting ammunition which is essential to target the enemy infantry which lies in wait to destroy the tanks.
• Information in public domain also reveals that increased gun elevation provides for engaging top floors of buildings in urban environments and also low flying aircraft/drones.
• The manufacturer claims that a single Terminator can replace two conventional BMPs and an infantry platoon.

Q) Which of the following is correct regarding India’s Main Battle Tank MK-1A?

1. The tank has been indigenously developed.
2. Main Battle Tank project was initiated by DRDO in 1972.

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 & 2
4. None of the above

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