The T-X is designed to not only terminate humans but rogue Terminators reprogrammed by the Resistance, an "anti-terminator terminator" as stated by John Connor. It is a composite of the T-800 and T-1000, a solid endoskeleton covered with polymimetic liquid metal alloy, allowing it to take the shape of any humanoid it touches. Because it is only coated in this material, it is possible to remove it from the endoskeleton using immensely strong magnetic force, such as from a cyclic particle accelerator. Powering all the T-X's systems is an onboard plasma reactor.[2]
Since only living tissue or mimetic polyalloy imitating human tissue can travel back in time, previous Terminators were limited to hand to hand combat and acquired weapons, or in the case of the T-1000, forming solid metal objects such as knives and stabbing weapons. The T-X, however, carries weapons internally, permitting it to take its futuristic arsenal back with it. Weapon discharges are fired from modified hands and forearms. During Terminator 3, its primary weapon in combat is a directed plasma energy weapon until it is badly damaged and replaced by the IAD ChemTech, a type of flamethrower. Other advanced onboard weaponry included (but possibly not limited to): P31 Caustic Shells (x 231); the HDE Predator (333b); the Finite Rapid Cluster Gun; .45 mm Cascader; the Nano-Disruptor (.222 mm) and the SUBauro Neutralizer (.444). It also has a circular saw for general cutting duty. Like other Terminators, it can readily use weapons designed for human use. The novelization also includes other capabilities; it has teeth that are harder than diamonds that can cut through solid titanium, can break a human spine just by pinching with the thumb and forefinger, and its thighs can squeeze with a force greater than an industrial hydraulic press. However, the T-X still needs to acquire vehicles and other forms of transport needed to accomplish its missions.
The T-X has advanced human identification systems built within; it is able to analyze DNA in blood samples by taking and processing them in its mouth, possesses infrared sensors to detect body heat, and possesses a retinal scanner. In addition to its own database, it can emulate a dial-up modem and connect to the Internet over a phone. It can also insert nanites into other machines, including cyborgs, to corrupt their programming and temporarily gain control over their actions. As the Model 101 stated, "the T-X is faster, more powerful, and more intelligent", making this model "a far more effective killing machine" than its predecessors. Feats shown in the movie include jumping a large distance onto a speeding hearse, punching straight through a car seat plus a man's torso and quickly recovering from a direct RPG hit. It was also able to wrap its legs around the T-850 with its back turned towards it and then turn its head 180 degrees to face it. Despite the T-850's remark about its superiority, however, the two are shown to be evenly matched in a physical confrontation at the Cyber Research Systems building, at least for a time. The T-X Series has an advanced utilitarian battle chassis, weighing in excess of 150 kilograms (330 lb). Protected by malleable crystalline ceramic armor interlaced with nano-fibers of carbon and titanium, the T-X is practically unstoppable on the battlefield, capable of sustaining vast amounts of damage with little to no effect.
Extremely strong and agile, the T-X Series is capable of moving its joints in ways that would be impossible for any human. Aided by artificial liquid steel lubrication, each joint has a massive degree of rotation. The neck is capable of 360-degree rotation, and the torso is capable of at least 180-degree rotation. The enhanced joints also show little to no wear or degradation when moving at high speeds, allowing the T-X Series to run at speeds in excess of 80 km per hour for brief periods of time before its power packs began to show slight decline.
Like the earlier Series 1000, the Series T-X utilizes mimetic polyalloy. However, whereas the Series 1000 was constructed entirely from this liquid metal, the T-X series only has a liquid metal outer sheath covering its endoskeleton for infiltration purposes, which gives the T-1000 an advantage for being able to regenerate better. Like the T-1000 before it, the T-X can take the form of any human it touches, typically terminating the subject upon reproduction. Stored within small reservoirs in the cranial casing of the T-X when in endoskeletal form, the mimetic polyalloy not only aids in infiltration, but also adds strength to the overall armor of the T-X Series.
Like other Terminators, the T-X exhibits a limited emotional range: it is visibly frustrated and performs a surprised double-take when it realizes that the T-850 is still in pursuit during the crane chase early in the film, shows signs of phenomenal rage when it is thwarted from killing John Connor at Crystal Peak, apparently fears for its life shortly before its destruction, appears genuinely nervous when it is caught in a magnetic field, and exhibits surprise when it identifies John Connor's blood sample at the vet's office. It also demonstrates an understanding of human nature and psychology; when pulled over by a male police officer it increased the size of its female form's bust, in an apparent attempt to positively influence his reaction.
The T-X is the villain in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, sent back to try to stop John Connor from founding the human resistance. Along with Connor, the T-X was programmed to seek out and kill 21 other primary targets, including Connor's future wife, Kate Brewster, her father, General Robert Brewster, and several of Connor's future lieutenants. In the case of the lieutenants, the TX was able to gain access to the public school database, obtain photos and addresses (work and home), and proceeded to kill several one by one; it is unknown how many it succeeded in assassinating, but according to the DVD's special features the only ones are Jose Barrera, Elizabeth and William Anderson and Robert Brewster (it is stated in the special features that Robert Brewster was only killed so he couldn't shut down Skynet once it was activated).
Other than a malfunctioning weapon, the T-X sustained no permanent damage throughout the film, until the Model 101 crashed a helicopter into it, causing it to lose its mimetic coating and legs. It was destroyed only when the reprogrammed Terminator jammed its last power cell into the T-X's mouth and detonating it - an internal explosion.
Although the T-X has the ability to identify DNA through touch or taste, a deleted scene from Terminator 2 showing the T-1000 "scanning" the bedroom of John Connor using it's hands, reveals that it may be a shared ability.
