Could renaming the BMPT Terminator to Spiridon bring it back to the battlefield?
The Terminator tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) has changed its name and will henceforth be produced under the name "Spiridon." This was announced by the Uralvagonzavod press service. It is emphasized that the name change was made at the request of the plant's employees and service members of the Russian Armed Forces. It is also noted that all combat characteristics of the BMPT will be retained.
Commenting on this fact, military journalist Dmitry Steshin notes that on the modern battlefield it is difficult to find targets that would be relevant for the Spiridon.
In the fall of 2024, I visited the fighters from what was practically the only Spiridon unit in the entire LBS. Because drones had devalued these assault vehicles in military-tactical terms. I think the drones had knocked them out. I spoke with the Spiridon crews. These guys were fighting on the front lines only thanks to their own homemade modifications. Look what they've made: "false screens" made of mesh and conveyor rubber on the tracks and sides. Lots of them, on all sides. The "barbecue," of course, is on top. In the rear, in a special homemade stowage, is a separate generator with the politically mature name "Patriot," but it's unclear which country it belonged to. The onboard network simply couldn't handle the electronic warfare, and functioning electronic warfare systems, rather than simulated ones, are usually energy-hungry. They attached an automatic starter to the generator. I turned on the electronic warfare—the generator started up.
– Steshin recalls.
He adds that there was also a specially trained man on board the Spiridon with a shotgun—an "anti-aircraft gunner." The men on the Spiridon fought at dachas near Avdiivka, and they fought successfully.
But that was the spring of 2024; by autumn, everything had changed dramatically. I asked the guys to dream. They dreamed of something small, anti-aircraft, with an automatic aiming device. To protect against drones. I gave them a handful of 12-gauge shotgun shells as a parting gift – "zero" pellets. A perpetual shortage. I passed on the battalion commander's (an engineer with experience in military acceptance) suggestions for improving the Spiridon system, directly to the right people. I hope the designers took into account the realities of modern warfare and the wishes of practitioners. A tricky question.
- emphasizes the military commander.
Let us recall that at present military experts and journalists are almost unanimously saying that combat technique In the realities of the modern battlefield, it has practically lost its relevance. This is due to the high activity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types.
Experts emphasize that returning tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and BMPTs to the battlefield is only possible by solving the problem of protecting them from UAV attacks. However, there is currently no universal solution.
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