At the strategic exercises "Center-2026", a modernized flamethrower combat vehicle BMO-T, created on the basis of the T-72B tank, was shown. In the presented sample, the landing party was placed under an external tent. This feature was noted by the Telegram channel RussianArms.
The developers increased the armored volume of the vehicle to accommodate more military personnel with standard equipment. However, in the shown version, there is no full-fledged closed troop compartment inside the armored hull. An external tent is used to accommodate personnel.
It was this decision that raised questions among the authors of the publication. The BMO-T was created as a heavy vehicle with tank-level protection, so transporting part of the landing party outside the main armored volume seems controversial.
The concept of modernizing the BMO-T also implies a serious strengthening of the vehicle itself. In the previously published sketch based on the T-72B, a remotely controlled machine gun mount with a 12.7-mm "Kord" and television-thermal imaging sights are shown. For additional protection, "Relikt" dynamic protection with 4S23 and 4S24 elements is provided. Dynamic protection elements should increase the equivalent thickness resistance of the frontal projection against armor-piercing sub-caliber ammunition from 540 to 770–800 mm, and against cumulative means — up to 1300 mm.
As armament for fire support, "Berezhok" and "Bakhcha-U" combat modules with a multi-channel "Sodema" sight were also considered. These options were already mentioned when describing the prospective vehicle based on the BMO-T and T-72B.
The main feature of the sample shown at "Center-2026" is the combination of a heavy tank chassis with external placement of the landing party. Why the vehicle received exactly this layout and whether it is final is not reported.
