Why is the Terminator tank support combat vehicle not adopted?

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The BMPT with an impressive array of weapons and quite decent armor protection never appeared in the Russian Armed Forces. A completely reasonable question arises: “Why”? Maybe the car is not at all as good as its developers say it is?

Before answering these questions, I suggest you go (very briefly) through the history of the creation of the Terminator tank support combat vehicle, familiarize yourself with the main technical characteristics of the Terminators, and only after that try to understand “Why”.

Development history

BMPT "Terminator" at an exhibition in 2012
The first work on the creation of BMPT (BMPT in transliteration) began in the 1980s at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. At the same time, research was carried out on the creation of tanks for border troops. After the collapse of the USSR, development was frozen. The project was resumed in 1998 in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Defense.

Development was carried out both on the basis of the T-72 tank and on the basis of the T-90. The first version was ready in 2000. The BMPT's armament included a 30-mm cannon, a coaxial Kalashnikov machine gun, Kornet anti-tank missiles and two grenade launchers.

Two years later, the vehicle received a second gun of the same caliber. The estimated reduction in ammunition and weight, the lack of standardized ammunition and automatic loading mechanisms for guns over 30 mm did not allow the installation of more powerful guns.

Combat tests of the new vehicle were successfully completed in 2006. However, the Ministry of Defense refused to accept it for service. "Terminator" participated in international and Russian exhibitions. At the same time, various aspects of its design and armament were refined.

In 2020, a combat vehicle was sent to Syria as an experiment. Significant doubts were expressed about this - there were no large-scale tank offensives, which made it impossible to use the BMPT for its intended purpose.

Despite this, “Terminator” showed itself to be excellent in solving a wide range of problems. The combination of tank armor, cannon-machine-gun and rocket fire showed the demand for BMPTs in local combat conditions.

Taking into account the results shown, already in August 2020, the Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the supply of the Terminator fire support combat vehicle to the Russian army. The first batch entered service on May 5, 2020, taking part in the Victory Parade.

The name of this car is one of the most controversial aspects. In development, the technique is designated “Object 199.” For promotion in foreign markets, the BMPT received the name “Terminator”, which quickly came into use in the Russian media. It was expected that when it was adopted by the Russian Federation, the vehicle would be called “Frame-99”, but this name never became widespread. Also, one should not confuse the combat vehicle with the T2000 Terminator multi-frequency jammers.

Fire support combat vehicles are initially designed as multi-purpose vehicles. Their strategic purpose is to deploy as part of tank formations and destroy any targets that could impede the offensive.

As a result, BMPTs are used to destroy enemy personnel, priority is given to crews with grenade launchers, small arms and anti-tank systems. The vehicle's gun allows you to hit some tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, pillboxes and bunkers and other objects.

Serial production of this equipment is carried out at Uralvagonzavod. Commenting on the success of the Terminator in Syria, its representatives stated that the BMPT is comparable in firepower and tasks to six infantry fighting vehicles and 40 soldiers. At the same time, it can hit any type of target, including small ships and low-flying helicopters.

Liquid metal terminators

T-1000

Terminator T-1000 “Liquid Metal”
T-1000 is a terminator – liquid metal. Consists of a liquid metal alloy. Its structure is monolithic and homogeneous, it is impossible to destroy it mechanically, and minor damage is instantly restored. It is useless to shoot at it, and although a powerful explosion tears it into pieces, they immediately gather within a radius of 15 km and restore their lost shape. It can change state from liquid to solid, take on various shapes, seep through holes, change color. Limbs randomly change shape and turn into edged weapons.

The T-1000 is capable of completely imitating other people in appearance, but for a short time due to large-scale energy consumption. To transform into a human, he needs to touch an object.

High or low temperatures damage its structure and functionality.

T-1001

Terminator T-1001
Appears in the TV series “The Sarah Connor Chronicles”. She infiltrates society in the image of a wealthy woman, Katherine Weaver. Just like the T-888, it can imitate a person for a long time, although it had difficulty deceiving the daughter of its prototype.

T-1000000

Spider Terminator T-1000000
Liquid metal T-1000000 appears in the “Battle Through Time” video attraction. It looks like a huge spider guarding the Skynet processor.

T-3000

Terminator T-3000
This is the newest Skynet machine, released in 2029. Such robots were previously human, and then their genetic codes were changed. Just like the 1000 and TX models, they can transform into any person, but they do not consist of liquid metal, but of nano-robots. They are very susceptible to magnetic fields, do not have built-in weapons, but just like the T-1000, they can create bladed weapons from their upper limbs. When firing shots, parts of nano-robots are lost, but are quickly restored. Voices can change. John Connor himself became a representative of this model.

T-5000

Terminator T-5000
Physical embodiment of Skynet. An advanced terminator that appears in the Genesis series. He is controlled by Skynet, transferred into his consciousness. An additional capability of the robot is to infect people with nanorobots, which modify human ones and create the T-3000 robot from a person. When Kyle Reese is sent into the past, he kills John Connor's squad, while John is struck by nanorobots, and the hero turns into the T-3000 Terminator.

BMPT design

BMPT scheme

The design of the BMPT Terminator has many similarities with the T-90A, which was taken as the basis for its development. Taking into account the weapons, the turret design has been greatly redesigned; the remote control module is located in the rear of the hull. The ammunition load is located outside the armor, which increases the survivability of the crew in the event of a shaped charge hit.

Dynamic protection "Relic"

The Terminator BMOP uses rolled, cast, multi-layer combined and projectile-resistant steel armor. A key role in the survivability of the vehicle is played by the Relikt dynamic protection module.

The project was developed on the basis of the Soviet version of “Kontakt-5” and surpassed it in all key parameters. The principle of operation is based on “two-way throwing”. The projectile is under the influence of two armor plates, one of which moves towards it, the other moves after it.

Such a system increases the resistance to projectiles by 1.2 times in the range of ± 20° and ± 35° in the hull and turret, respectively. Protection against cumulative projectiles is doubled. To counter such ammunition, lattice screens are also provided to protect the aft part of the engine compartment.

The Terminator crew

"Terminator" has a classic layout designed for 5 crew members. It includes a squad commander, a gunner, a driver and two front-line grenade launcher operators. Weapons control is duplicated. The automated system allows the commander to fire all weapons located on the turret.

Surveillance and communications equipment

The BMPT "Terminator" is equipped with an automated fire control system (FCS) "Frame". The gunner carries out aiming using thermal imaging and laser channels; laser beam guidance is also used for anti-tank guided missiles.

The commander's panoramic sight has similar channels and all-round visibility. There is an automatic fire adjustment system that takes into account firing conditions with a roll or trim of up to 15 degrees. There are warning and protective systems to counteract laser irradiation from the enemy.

The main means of surveillance and communication are similar to the T-90 tank, however, a number of aspects have been revised in favor of the latest developments. For example, the positions of grenade launcher operators are equipped with Agat-MP stabilized sights, designed for day and night fire.

Means of camouflage

The Terminator BMPT is not designed for covert operations. This technique is aimed at supporting tank offensives. Combat experience has shown the vehicle's relevance in local conflicts, but special camouflage is not used for it. In this matter, only the camouflage color and the ability to conduct operations under smoke screen conditions are distinguished.

Instead of output

About the connection between the Army and the Design Bureau

Everyone must do their part. A designer must draw, and a military man must die for his Motherland. That's all. Therefore, the demands of the military are sacred. We must fulfill them. But demands sometimes come from armchair people, and apparently we need to listen more to Vanka, the platoon commander. That's why this is the case here. But this connection between Vanka and KB is somehow blurry.

We are all boiling in our own cauldrons. I am like a designer in my own way. The military is in its own way, with its own chain of command, which has not been abolished. And therefore, if Vanka, the platoon commander, comes to the lieutenant colonel and starts something, it will be like in “Two Comrades Served”: “Every warrant officer thinks of himself as Napoleon, every captain is the Prince of Savoy, come on, shine a light on Sivash! Remember this episode? Classic. We must remember her.

And then, if we remember the development of technology, it has always gone this way. First, someone beat the military, then some person appeared who said: “Tell the sovereign, you can’t clean guns with bricks!” Such a connection appeared: a beaten military man near Sevastopol with rifled fittings, then Lefty, who set the task, and then, apparently, Mosin, who implemented it brilliantly simply!

Now, if you, as a media outlet, could establish such a connection, as, for example, I read Fomin, in my opinion, the guy who went to Syria and did reporting. This is wonderful, it needs to be published and analyzed, some kind of film needs to be made. This is the thing! This kind of feedback, not at the top level, but at the lower and middle levels, would be very useful.

About competition and personnel

And I understand that in Russia you can do anything as long as you don’t interfere. What's stopping you? Firstly, this is monopoly. This is the scourge of Russia - monopolism.

Those. when my immensely beloved design bureau UKBTM in Tagil became somewhat infected with this thing. That is, when the design bureau fought with Leningrad and Kharkov, which had their own tanks, oh, what men we had! This is a miracle! Don’t put your finger in your mouth, they’ll bite you right off your elbow. I absolutely do not like the rejuvenation of KB. They used to tell me: “If you grow up to 55 years old, then you will at least begin to understand something!” And indeed it is. As they say, the heyday of a politician is 70-75 years, and the heyday of a designer - the chief designer, I emphasize, is about 55 years. It is objective. Like this.

Naturally we must be ahead. And why we are still not ahead is what is strange to me. We always walked ahead, but suddenly we found ourselves somehow spat upon. No, that's wrong.

/Based on materials from zen.yandex.ru/

Main weapons

Armament BMOP "Terminator"

The BMPT's armament is represented by several types, which makes the Terminator a multifunctional support vehicle. Thanks to its wide range of capabilities, it can be used not only to support tanks, but also to cover infantry.

The key advantage of the BMPT is high-density fire. The difference in weapons allows you to attack up to four different targets simultaneously. For effective advancement, there is electromagnetic protection that ensures the premature detonation of mines and landmines.

30 mm guns 2A42

The 2A42 rifled gun is designed to destroy enemy infantry, lightly armored vehicles and fortifications, as well as low-flying air targets. Shooting is carried out in single shots and bursts. Combined ammunition supply, the gun can fire high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing shells.

The effective engagement range depends on the type of target. The gun hits enemy manpower within 4 km, equipment and air targets - 1.5 and 2 km, respectively. "Terminator" has two such guns, the total ammunition is designed for 900 shots.

Ataka 9M120-1 ATGM with laser guidance system

The Ataka anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is designed to destroy armored vehicles, manpower, air defense, pillboxes and helicopters. The 9M120-1 modification has a tandem cumulative warhead. Firing range - from 400 to 6000 m. Ammunition - 4 missiles. The laser guidance system ensures high accuracy after irradiating the target.

The 7.62 mm PK machine gun has one modernized Kalashnikov tank machine gun (PKTM) of 7.62 mm caliber. Designed to defeat infantry and lightly armored targets. Ammunition capacity is 2000 rounds. Automated management.

Automatic grenade launcher AGS-17

AGS-17D - automatic grenade launchers. The main purpose is to defeat enemy infantry and fire crews located in open shelters - trenches, trenches, behind rocks, in ravines and hollows. Caliber - 30 mm, belt feed. The BMPT has two such grenade launchers, each with 300 rounds of ammunition.

Filter ventilation unit

The filter ventilation unit (FVU) ensures the purification of the air entering the car. Thanks to the high pressure, the crew is protected from poisonous gases, radioactive dust and other substances entering the vehicle. The filtration system also works if the machine is not sealed.

Specifications

The performance characteristics of the BMPT have been verified by tests and combat operations

Technical characteristics of the Terminator BMPT have the following indicators:

• hull length - 6.96 m, with a gun - 7.2 m;
• width along tracks - 3.37 m, along side screens - 3.8 m;
• height along the turret roof - 1.94 m, along the commander's panoramic sight - 3.44;
• ground clearance - 0.406 m;
• combat weight - 48 tons;
• engine - V12 V-92S2, diesel, turbocharged;
• engine power - 1000 hp. With.;
• highway speed - up to 65 km/h;
• Highway range - 550 km;
• climbability - up to 30 degrees;
• overcoming the wall - 0.85 m;
• the ditch to be overcome is 2.7 m.

The performance characteristics of the BMPT "Terminator" also allows you to overcome deep fords. Without preparation, the vehicle can be immersed in water to 1.2 m, with preparation - 1.8 m. When using underwater tank driving equipment (OPVT), the BMOP can be immersed in water to 5 m.

TX

Terminator TX
TX is a terminator fighter. The female terminator and the film "Terminator 3". It combines an endoskeleton like the T-800, but instead of an outer covering there is liquid metal that can change its shape. Therefore, the robot often takes on any humanoid form. More vulnerable than the T-1000 model, but not subject to ballistic shock. It has built-in weapons, small arms and bladed weapons, can control at a distance and reprogram other mechanisms, recognize the genetic codes of samples through sensors on the tongue, etc.

The lineup

"Terminator-2" at the exhibition, another name - "BMPT-72"

The model range has three modifications:

• "Terminator" - basic prototype;
• "Terminator 2" - a modernized version, presented in the fall of 2014;
• “Terminator-3” is a new level project based on the “Armata” universal combat platform.

The latest modification, according to the developers, will acquire an AU-220M combat module with a more powerful 57 mm cannon and a destruction range of 12 km. This weapon was developed for light warships and in the future will allow the vehicle to destroy targets without entering their engagement range.

Promising BMPT "Terminator - 3"

After the appearance of the “Armata”, naturally, the development of a promising version of the BMPT continued, which the people have already designated as “Terminator-3” based on the new tank. Rumor has it that the new Terminator will be armed, among other things, with the latest AU-220M combat module. This module includes a 57 mm automatic cannon, which was developed for the navy.

This gun has an excellent rate of fire - 300 rounds per minute, and a simply incredible range for hitting targets for this caliber - up to 12,000 m. These characteristics suggest that Terminator-3 will be able to hit almost all types of targets: air and ground.

This 57-mm cannon penetrates 100-mm armor at a distance of 4,000 m, and a serial panel building pierces (in the full sense of the word, that is, pierces through) at a range of up to 4,500 m.

Perhaps this is all I could find about the new “Terminator”. All other characteristics are a big secret or military secret.

Evaluation of the Terminator tank support combat vehicle project

Good car! One word - terminator. A jack of all trades combat master. And this raises a completely reasonable question about how to use this master in a real combat situation?

“Terminator” can fight low-flying targets such as helicopters and drones, can fight tanks and other armored targets, can very effectively fight infantry due to the presence of a powerful reconnaissance complex for such targets, and can successfully fight in a city or, for example, in the mountains.

Why do we need tanks at all then? And why do air defenses exist in tank forces? And can infantry be excluded from tank units?

The trick is that the Terminator does all this together better than the average tank, but worse than a specialized combat vehicle, which is “tailored” to perform a specific task on the battlefield.

The no longer young (not modern) Tunguska will work much more effectively against air targets than the Terminator. And for this, “Tunguska” does not need to go on the attack in the same line with the tanks.

The T-90 will deal with other people’s tanks no worse than the “Terminator” does. And, importantly, cheaper. And the tank itself is significantly cheaper than the BMPT.

Today, unfortunately, infantry cannot be replaced by a machine on the battlefield. And the point here is not only in the density of fire and the weight of one salvo. The Terminator can spit out more iron and lead than a motorized rifle platoon, but can it perform the tasks that this motorized rifle platoon solves in battle? Let me remind you that the infantry is not only running around unmown meadows in a chain - these guys have much wider capabilities. And they fight not only in an open field. How will this machine fight in the forest or in the swamp?

In the thirties, Soviet designers tried to build a tank aircraft. Two in one bottle, as they say now. I see the Terminator tank support combat vehicle as the same aircraft-tank - it looks great, its potential capabilities are impressive, its use in real combat, like an BMPT, is doubtful.

Maybe it should be used to solve other problems? To support motorized infantry in the city, for example. Or be included in a regular tank unit, i.e. not as an attached unit, but as an integral part of a tank platoon, company, etc. But then we will have to rewrite the combat regulations for these units - how to build a battle formation, how to use the Terminator in the offensive, in defense and in other types of combat. Then the Terminator will become not just a unique jack-of-all-trades combat vehicle, but will actually greatly increase the combat effectiveness of tank units. That is, it will be possible to get synergy when 1+1 is no longer 2, but 3 or 4. Or maybe more.

Apr 23, 2020 admin Tags: military equipment 8359

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Discussion: 4 comments

1. andor:
   02/07/2018 at 16:47

   It’s hard to speculatively say what this “terminator” is for...

   After the Second World War, no one ever saw frontal tank attacks or took part in them...

   wars generally lost the concept of a “front line”, partially in Korea and completely in Vietnam, and all subsequent conflict wars did not suffer from this “classic” of 20th century war

   since modern conflicts have a focal type of warfare, the epicenter of which is, as a rule, a city

   then we must assume that the “terminator” will show itself best as an “urban” fighter... however, for this he needs to “raise” the vertical angle of the guns to about 70 degrees and return the grenade launchers... “sheath/hang” with an anti-cumulative grille...

   and taking into account the experience of the Second World War, assign escort troops on the sides of the streets ..

   so approximately