Russian Ground Forces receive BMPT Terminator vehicles

The Russian Ground Forces have taken delivery of a new batch of BMPT Terminator fire support vehicles, according to the state-owned defence conglomerate, Rostec. The announcement, made on October 1, states that the vehicles are a “significant reinforcement for tank and motorized rifle units.”

As is standard for Rostec delivery announcements, no mention is made of the number of vehicles that have been delivered. “Uralvagonzavod is currently fulfilling a large order for the BMPT: demand for this vehicle is high,” notes Alexander Potapov, CEO of the Uralvagonzavod and the vehicle’s manufacturer in the press release. Separately, head of Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, told Putin earlier this year that production of new light armoured vehicles and tanks “had increased by 1.1 times.” RUSI has previously stated that around 1,500 tanks and armoured vehicles – 80% of them refurbished – are being delivered each year.

This BMPT announcement follows a June delivery of refurbished T-80BVMs in June, and batches of T-90M and T-72B3M tanks in May. It is never clear whether these vehicles are refurbished and repaired from the war in Ukraine, from Russian stores, or new-build. Regardless, there are also some indications that few of them are actually sent to Ukraine, which indicates that some of these vehicles are being reserved to replenish the Russian Ground Forces. 

The Rostec announcement also states that the BMPT vehicles have been significantly modified based on experience gained from deployment to Ukraine where it is “indispensable to the Ground Forces.” There, the vehicles have been observed providing fire support to Russian troops in urban and wooded areas, often operating independently. With two 30 mm cannons, it is able to provide a lot of suppressive fire against infantry formations. Rostec also states that the vehicle can be used to engage drones.

The primary differences between the current BMPT and the vehicles that were in service in 2022 is the addition of extra explosive reactive armour (ERA) and side protection, as well as counter-drone electronic warfare systems. Rostec very proudly states that 200 changes have been made to the T-90M in response to experience gained from the war, so it is a very different platform to what it was in 2022. It is likely that some of the developments for the T-90M have fed into the updated BMPT.

No breakthrough design solutions?

Notably, Chemezov said in June that, “the German Leopard tank is highly engineered: modern components, a fire control system, a powerful engine, albeit with strange temperature limitations. But we didn’t see any breakthrough design solutions, meaning we have nothing to borrow from the Leopard and apply to our own.” He said this in relation to the technical exploitation that Rostec has reportedly carried out of captured Western equipment. It indicates that Russia will continue with its armoured vehicle development, favouring lighter infantry fighting vehicles that are amphibious, as well as ERA as the primary means of enhanced protection for tanks. However, the captured tanks were not the most modern configuration available to the West, and lacked key protective elements like active protection systems (APS). Russia does have its own APS called Arena, which is reportedly ready for installation on platforms like the T-90M, and presumably the BMPT. Despite the need being ostensibly severe, and several flurries of excitement around Arena, however, the system has not entered service.

Calibre comment

The addition of ERA and electronic warfare systems is a response to the threats that have damaged and destroyed a lot of Russia’s vehicles in Ukraine. The current dominating factor is FPV drones, often armed with the warhead from an RPG-7, as well as larger loitering munitions. In response, Russia has fitted lighter platforms, like the BMD-4M and BMP-3, with stand-off statistical armour designed to deflect an FPV drone or damage its warhead so that it does not detonate properly. 

But heavy platforms can carry ERA, which requires a strong backing. It defeats threats like the high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads that are often used by firing two flyer plates into the path of the jet. One plate moves towards the vehicle, and one away from it. This effect, which is created by a layer of explosive sandwiched between the two plates, leads to a disruption of the HEAT jet and protects the vehicle. ERA can be very effective against these threats and provide the equivalent of hundreds of millimetres of steel armour at a much lower weight. It enables vehicles like the BMPT to withstand a lot of punishment and is often standard equipment for Western tanks when deployed operationally.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on October 1, 2025. The lead image shows a BMPT being transported on a rail car. Credit: Rostec.