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Russia Wants a New “Terminator” Tank From Its Failing Armata—but It May Never Be Built
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia is considering developing a new tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) based on the T-14 Armata platform, according to Defense Express on September 17.
The concept would be positioned as a successor to the existing BMPT “Terminator,” which is currently built on T-72 and T-90 chassis.
The announcement was made by the general director of Uralvagonzavod during a broadcast of the Russian program Voyennaya Priyomka. No technical details or timelines were provided, a pattern consistent with previous statements about Armata-related projects.
According to Defense Express, the T-14 Armata tank has yet to enter serial production, nor has it passed state trials required for deployment in the Russian Armed Forces. In early 2024, Rostec chief Sergey Chemezov publicly acknowledged that the platform was “not designed for war.”
This admission reinforced doubts about the feasibility of expanding the Armata family into new vehicle classes.
While Russian officials continue to promote the tank in defense exhibitions and discussions of potential exports, domestic priorities remain focused on upgrading older models, such as T-62 and T-72 tanks, and producing newer T-90M units to meet battlefield demands.
Defense Express notes that BMPTs, including the Terminator, have demonstrated some survivability advantages compared to standard tanks due to specific armor configurations.
However, their operational impact has been limited by extremely low production numbers. The current Terminator design relies primarily on twin 30-mm autocannons, which lack effective stabilization and have reduced combat effectiveness in modern high-intensity warfare.
#Ukraine: A Russian BMPT "Terminator" tank support fighting vehicle was taken out of action and T-80BV was damaged by the Ukrainian SBU "Alpha" using several FPV loitering munitions and indirect fire near Spartak, #Donetsk Oblast. pic.twitter.com/IcYLcxbDAJ
— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) August 12, 2023
Despite these limitations, Uralvagonzavod reports an increase in orders for Terminators, including plans extending into 2026, though no figures were disclosed.
The report also highlights the possibility that an Armata-based BMPT could be aimed at foreign markets rather than Russia’s own army.
Moscow has previously expressed interest in offering the T-14 to India, with discussions reportedly touching on localized production to attract foreign investment and technology transfers. Such arrangements could also be used to address persistent technical shortcomings of the platform.
According to Defense Express, while Uralvagonzavod is unlikely to abandon the project, the likelihood of large-scale production remains low given Russia’s current focus on cheaper upgrades and ongoing wartime losses.
Any Armata-based BMPT is therefore more likely to serve a role in defense exhibitions and propaganda than to appear in significant numbers on the battlefield.
Earlier OSINT analysis showed that Russia is reactivating Cold War–era T-72A and Ural tanks from long-term storage as stocks of modern armor run low. Many of these vehicles, held in poor condition at bases such as the 349th and 111th, are now being sorted for possible refurbishment, underscoring the strain on Russia’s defense industry after years of heavy losses.
