A promised new name, but none given: Why the domestic BMPT still bears the American name "Terminator"

The story of renaming the tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) "Terminator" has been going on for several years. At the beginning of 2026, Uralvagonzavod still did not present a new name for the combat vehicle.

Chronology of events

Back in 2024, the first theses appeared among military experts that the name "Terminator" is more suitable for an export brand.

In February 2025, Igor Meshkov, a member of the board of directors of the concern, noted that the question of abandoning the American name of the formidable Russian machine has long been raised in society behind the scenes.

A month later, the press service of Rostec proposed choosing a new name for the "Terminator" from the options "Dobrynya", "Peresvet" or "STIM" (Union of Tank and Machine).

Then in June, Uralvagonzavod announced a public vote for a new name for the BMPT and promised to announce the result by the Army-2025 forum, which was then canceled.

In October, the concern announced the receipt of two thousand proposals with a new name for the "Terminator". The company emphasized that the most interesting proposals are undergoing preliminary examination to assess the possibility of their registration. They promised to announce the voting time later. The year 2026 has arrived - the name remains the same.

What is the "Terminator"?

The BMPT carries a complex of weapons that gives the vehicle advantages even in the fight against air targets - two 30-mm cannons and a machine gun. Four Ataka-T missiles and two automatic grenade launchers allow it to "work" even on the most fortified objects.

In November 2025, Uralvagonzavod supplied a new batch of BMPTs to the troops. The combat equipment received the latest updates of 2025 - enhanced dynamic protection, new anti-drone grilles and electronic warfare kits, like on the T-90M "Proryv" and T-72B3M.

However, military analysts found flaws even in the "Terminator" - the complete absence of a landing compartment. The use of the BMP T-15 hull based on the "Armata" would significantly increase the flexibility and versatility of the design.