Otokar Cobra

Otokar Cobra

Otokar Cobra in an Azerbaijani military parade. This Cobra is armed with a DShKM machine gun and a mounted gun shield.
Type Infantry mobility vehicle
Place of origin Turkey
Service history
In service 1997–present
Used by Operators
Wars War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Russo-Georgian War
Turkey–PKK conflict
Production history
Designer Otokar
Manufacturer Otokar
Specifications
Weight

Cobra : 6200 kg

Cobra II: 12,000kg.
Length

Cobra: 5.23m

Cobra II: 5.6m
Width

Cobra: 2.22m

Cobra II: 2.5m
Height

Cobra: 2.1m

Cobra II: 2.2m
Crew

Cobra 1+8

Cobra II: 2+7

Engine

Cobra: 6.5L,GM V8 diesel, water cooled,turbo charged

Cobra II: 6.7L, six-cylinder, water cooled, turbo charged, common rail, diesel engine
Cobra: 190hp

Cobra II: 281hp
Suspension Helical coil suspension
Operational
range

Cobra: 752 km

Cobra II: 700km
Speed

Cobra: 115 km/h (72Mph)

Cobra II: 110lm/h

The Cobra (Turkish: Kobra) is an infantry mobility vehicle developed by Turkish firm Otokar which uses some mechanical components and sub-systems of the HMMWV[1][2]

Survivability

The monocoque steel v-hull provides protection against small arms fire, artillery shell shrapnel, and to a certain degree against anti-personnel/tank mines and IEDs. Front wheel arches are designed to be blown away to free blast pockets.[1]

Variants

Cobra

The Cobra vehicle forms a common platform which can be adapted for various roles and mission requirements including: Armoured Personnel Carrier, Anti-Tank Vehicle, Reconnaissance Vehicle, Ground Surveillance Radar Vehicle, Forward Observation Vehicle, Armoured Ambulance, Armoured Command Post, turreted vehicle for 12.7mm machine gun (turret produced by the Israeli firm Rafael), 20mm cannon, anti-tank missiles such as the TOW missile/Spike missile or surface-to-air missiles.[1]

Cobra can be used as an amphibious vehicle in combat. Turkish Naval Forces is now looking for a new amphibious vehicle and Otokar Cobra is listed amongst the candidates for acquisitions.

Cobra II

Fist unveiled at IDEF 2013, the Cobra II is a more heavily armored 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.[3]

Standard equipment suite 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.[4] In an APC configuration the vehicle can carry nine personnel and the vehicle 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.[3] Powered by a 6.7L, six-cylinder, water cooled, turbo charged, common rail diesel engine that produces 281 hp, it's maximum road speed is 110 km/h on roads and has a maximum cruising range of 700 km[4]

Otokar has received orders for the Cobra II both for an undisclosed customer and from the Turkish Armed Forces.[3]

In late 2015, the Turkish Armed Forces ordered 82 Cobra II vehicles plus related systems, maintenance and support worth $52 million.[3][5][6] Delivery is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2017.[5]

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.[7] Assuming the same value to vehicle ratio as the 2015 order, this would imply an order of about 180 vehicles.[7]

Operational History

Georgia

In the 2008 South Ossetia war, Cobra vehicles equipped with 12.7 mm NSV machine guns and 40 mm automatic grenade launchers [8] were used by the special forces of Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs during their assault on the city in the Battle of Tskhinvali.

Pakistan

According to sources Pakistan purchased about 200+ of these vehicles and plan to have about 500+ in their inventory. Deal was concluded with TOT and remaining vehicles are to be produced at Heavy Industries Taxila with additional orders for Otokar Akrep.

Nigeria

The Nigerian Military has deployed Cobra's during operations against the terrorist Boko Haram Insurgency in the North-East of the country since 2013.[9]

Afghanistan

Cobra's are used by the Turkish Armed Forces in Afghanistan.

Turkey

Cobra's are actively being used by the Turkish Armed Forces within the country for anti-terrorism operations.

Cobras have shown to be highly resistant against most mine and IED attacks, with the crew surviving most incidents without any injuries. The increasing sophistication of IED use by the PKK and the loss of eight soldiers inside one on August 19, 2015 has prompted the Turkish Armed Forces to upgrade its fleet of armored vehicles.[10] This has in part led to additional orders for the improved Cobra II[6]

Operators

Map of Otokar Cobra operators in blue

Cobra Current operators

Cobra II Current & Future Operators

See also

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Cobra Light Armoured Vehicle - Army Technology". army-technology.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  2. "Otokar Cobra is a true all-terrain fighting machine". Fox News. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Otokar's Cobra II 4x4 receives its first orders | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  4. 1 2 "Cobra II Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle". Army Technology. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  5. 1 2 "Turkey contracts Otokar for Cobra II armored vehicles". UPI. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  6. 1 2 3 "Turkey Picks Otokar for $52M Armored Vehicle Contract". Defense News. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  7. 1 2 3 "Turkey orders more Cobra II armoured vehicles | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  8. Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, Final report Volume III. p.121
  9. "SECURITY OPERATIONS IN INSURGENCY-PRONE 'EMERGENCY RULE' AREAS OF N.E NIGERIA : EID-EL-FITR CELEBRATIONS 8-9 AUGUST, 2013 (PHOTO CREDIT: SUNDAY ALAMBA/ASSOCIATED PRESS) - Beegeagle's Blog". Beegeagle's Blog. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  10. "Turkish army to upgrade armored vehicles - POLITICS". hurriyetdailynews.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  11. "ناقلات الجنود المدرعة تركية الصنع !". Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  12. Pike, John. "Bahrain - Army Equipment". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  13. "Otokar cobra of Dhaka Metropolitan Police ~ Bangladesh Defence". defencebd.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  14. "Otokar Kazakistan'da 'Cobra' üretecek". MİLLİYET HABER - TÜRKİYE'NİN HABER SİTESİ. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  15. "Turqia e mbështet fuqishëm FSK-në". MFSK - MKBS - MKSF. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  16. "Mauritania deploys new armoured vehicles for peacekeeping mission". janes.com. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  17. "DM Besimi receives Turkish donation for ARM". Влада на Република Македонија. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  18. "NIGERIAN ARMY OTOKAR COBRA APC: ORIENTED TOWARDS URBAN BRAWLS". Beegeagle's Blog. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  19. "Cobra Armored Personnel Carrier".
  20. http://kprf.ru/international/59203.html
  21. "36.000 evrov za uro leta". Prvi interaktivni multimedijski portal, MMC RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  22. "Turkey's Otokar Wins Armored Vehicle Contract From UN". Defense News. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
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