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Otokar Cobra II

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Otokar Cobra II
Otokar Cobra II at the IDEF 2019
TypeInfantry mobility vehicle with MRAP capabilities
Place of originTurkey
Service history
In service2013–present
Used byOperators
WarsRussian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerOtokar
ManufacturerOtokar
Developed fromCobra I
Specifications
Mass12,000 kg (26,000 lb)
Length5.6 m (18 ft)
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Crew2+8[1]
Engine6.7L, six-cylinder, water cooled, turbo charged, common rail, diesel engine
281 hp
Transmission6-speed automatic (6 forward + 1 reverse)
SuspensionHelical coil suspension
Operational
range
700 km (430 mi)
Maximum speed 110 km/h (68 mph)

The Cobra II (Turkish: Kobra II), a further development of the earlier Cobra I model,[2] is an armoured tactical vehicle designed and produced by Turkish company Otokar.[3][4] Cobra II is a 4x4 wheeled armoured vehicle and has a capacity for maximum ten personnel including the driver and the commander.[1] It features high level of protection against threats from improvised explosive devices and land mines. Among its various functions are security and peacekeeping operations and border protection. The personnel carrier can be produced in different versions, according to different security requirements of the user thanks to its modular design.[3]

Overview

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Bangladeshi peacekeepers in Mali with Cobra II vehicles

The tactical personnel carrier's overall length is 5.6 m (18 ft) with its width 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) and height 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in). Run flat, CTIS, air conditioning system, blackout lighting system and towing eye are among the standard equipment of the vehicle. It can be additionally fitted with a self-recovery winch, a CBRN filtration kit, automatic fire extinguishing system, navigation system, intercom system and an auxiliary power unit. It can be optionally equipped with a remote controlled weapon system (RCWS) of up to 30 mm machine gun or grenade launcher.[4]

It serves in the Turkish Armed Forces and security forces. It is also used by several other countries as well as by the United Nations in peacekeeping missions.[3][1] It was presented for the first time in May 2013.[5]

First unveiled at IDEF 2013, the Cobra II is a more heavily armoured successor to the Cobra. The Cobra II has a combat weight that is roughly double that of its predecessor and is slightly wider, longer and taller.[6]

Standard equipment includes rear view camera, thermal front camera, air conditioning system, blackout lighting system, multi-point seat belts, radio provisions, and a towing eye. It can be optionally equipped with a self-recovery winch, nuclear, biological and chemical filtration kit, automation fire extinguishing system, intercom system, navigation system and an auxiliary power unit.[1][7] In an APC configuration, the vehicle can carry nine personnel and can be armed with a number of different weapons, including crew-operated machine guns and remote weapon stations armed with short-range surface-to-air missiles and grenade launchers.[6] The vehicle also has an amphibious variant.[8]

Cobra II is powered by a 6.7L, six-cylinder, water cooled, turbo charged, common rail, diesel engine mated to an automatic gearbox (six forward and one reverse). It produces a power of 360 hp (269 kW) at 2,650rpm, and torque of 1100Nm at 1,400rpm. The engine is also compatible with F-34 and F-54 fuel. It has a maximum speed of 110 km/h (68 mph) and can operate in range of 700 km (430 mi).[9][10]

Operational history

[edit]

Turkey

[edit]

The first orders for the Cobra II were received from an undisclosed customer, and from the Turkish Armed Forces.[6] In late 2015, the Turkish Armed Forces ordered 82 Cobra II vehicles plus related systems, maintenance and support worth $52 million.[6][11][12] In June 2016, the Turkish Armed Forces ordered an undisclosed number of Cobra II vehicles plus related systems, maintenance and support worth $120.8 million.[13] Assuming the same value to vehicle ratio as the 2015 order, this would imply an order of about 180 vehicles.[13]

Bangladesh

[edit]

Received 22 Cobra IMV in 2007–2008, 22 in 2013, and 67 Cobra II MRAP in 2017–2018.[14] The Bangladesh Army has used Cobra II vehicles in United Nations peacekeeping operations.[15]

Ukraine

[edit]

In May 2023 a video was posted on social media showing several Cobra II vehicles in use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. A rail transport of Cobra II, assumed to be intended for Ukraine, was previously spotted in Romania in April 2023.[16] The MEDEVAC variant of the Cobra II was first seen in use by the Ukrainian forces during the 2024 Kursk offensive.[2]

Romania

[edit]

The Cobra II won the contract tender for supplying 1,059 vehicles in nine configurations for the Romanian Armed Forces as part of the Light armored tactical type vehicles (ATBTU) program.[17] The total cost of the contract is around $934 million. The first 278 vehicles are to be produced in Turkey[18] while the rest will be produced in Romania in cooperation with the Automecanica SA company in Mediaș. A Cobra II fitted with a Romanian Pro Optica Anubis RCWS was previously presented at the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace [ro] 2024 exposition.[19]

Operators

[edit]
Map of Otokar Cobra II operators, in blue
[edit]
  • Ecuadorian Otokar Cobra II
    Ecuadorian Otokar Cobra II
  • Cobra II vehicles at an Ecuadorian military ceremony
    Cobra II vehicles at an Ecuadorian military ceremony

See also

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Comparable vehicles

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "COBRA II 4×4 Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle". Turkish Defence News. Archived from the original on 2024-07-25.
  2. ^ a b "Ukraine's Kursk Offensive sees first use of Turkish Cobra II Medical Evacuation Vehicle". armyrecognition.com. 20 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Turkish Defence Industry Products Digital Catalogue (page 16)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-11-29.
  4. ^ a b "Weapons of Ukraine's Victory: Otokar Cobra II Armored Combat Vehicle". Root nation.
  5. ^ "Cobra II armored vehicles spotted in Romania". Ukrainian Military Center.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Otokar's Cobra II 4x4 receives its first orders | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  7. ^ "Cobra II Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle". Army Technology. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  8. ^ "Cobra II". defense.otokar.com.tr. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Cobra II Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle". army-technology.com. 27 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Cobra ii 4x4 Tactical Armored Vehicle" (PDF). Otokar. 2021.
  11. ^ "Turkey contracts Otokar for Cobra II armored vehicles". UPI. Archived from the original on 2016-06-12. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  12. ^ a b c "Turkey Picks Otokar for $52M Armored Vehicle Contract". Defense News. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  13. ^ a b c d "Turkey orders more Cobra II armoured vehicles | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-26. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  14. ^ a b "Trade Registers". SIPRI. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Otokar Cobra II armored vehicles of Bangladeshi army in UN peacekeeping mission". armyrecognition.com. 9 May 2022.
  16. ^ "The Ukrainian military received Turkish Cobra II armored vehicles". mil.in.ua. 11 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Blindate 4x4 pentru Armată. România a demarat oficial un program uriaș privind achiziția de blindate și cunoaștem marii favoriți". DefenseRomania (in Romanian). 30 May 2023.
  18. ^ a b S.I. Catalin (5 October 2024). "Compania Otokar confirmă vânzarea a 1.059 de vehicule blindate COBRA II către România: Cele mai multe blindate vor fi asamblate în țara noastră". DefenseRomania (in Romanian).
  19. ^ "BSDA 2024: Otokar Presents Cobra II Proposal for Romania". armyrecognition.com. 27 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Teslim aldıkları Türk zırhlılarını böyle karşıladılar: Harika haber | STAR". Star.com.tr. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Turkey's Cobra II to Protect Ghana's Borders". c4defenceC.
  22. ^ "Otokar Cobra II ve Nurol Ilgaz zırhlıları Fildişi Sahilli'nde görüntülendi". 6 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Yeni Akit Gazetesi - Haberler - Son Dakika Haberleri". 8 December 2019.
  24. ^ "Почему в минобороны казахстанскому "Алан-2" предпочли турецкую "Кобру-2"". 16 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Миллиардные убытки: Министерство обороны выбрало турецкую бронетехнику". 31 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Fas'tan 136 milyon dolarlık Otokar Cobra II 4x4 zırhlı araç tedariki - SavunmaTR". 18 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Türkiye'den Fas'a COBRA II ihracatı iddiası". 18 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Fas Kraliyet Silahlı Kuvvetleri (FAR), Türkiye'den 200 adet Cobra 2 zırhlı araç sipariş etti - Türkiye'de İş Dünyası".
  29. ^ "Fas Kraliyet Silahlı Kuvvetleri (FAR), Türkiye'den 200 adet Cobra 2 zırhlı araç sipariş etti". 18 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Rwanda military contingent in Mozambique operating with Turkish made Otokar Cobra II APCs". armyrecognition.com. 14 September 2022.
  31. ^ http://x.com/sundance_22/status/1800457087887212943 [bare URL]
  32. ^ http://x.com/ismaeelk21/status/1800429013544169475 [bare URL]
  33. ^ "Saudi Special Forces buy Turkish Otokar Cobra II armored vehicles to strengthen Mecca security".
  34. ^ "Senegal'e ihraç edilen Cobra II zırhlıları görüntülendi!". 6 December 2022.
  35. ^ http://x.com/jakepor21/status/1643567435465777153 [bare URL]
  36. ^ http://x.com/jakepor21/status/1643567438267547648 [bare URL]
  37. ^ French: Des Otokar Cobras pour l’armée tunisienne
  38. ^ "Turkish Otokar Cobra II armoured vehicles received by AFU".
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