Otokar Cobra

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]

Otokar Cobra
An Otokar Cobra in a Azeri military parade
TypeInfantry mobility vehicle
Place of originTurkey
Service history
In service1997–present
Used byOperators
WarsWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Russo-Georgian War
Kurdish–Turkish conflict
Boko Haram insurgency
Operation Euphrates Shield
Operation Olive Branch
Kosovo War
Production history
DesignerOtokar
ManufacturerOtokar
Specifications
MassCobra: 6,200 kg Cobra II: 12,000kg.
LengthCobra: 5.23m Cobra II: 5.6m
WidthCobra: 2.22m Cobra II: 2.5m
HeightCobra: 2.1m Cobra II: 2.2m
CrewCobra 1+8 Cobra II: 2+7
EngineCobra: 6.5L, GM V8 diesel, water cooled, turbo charged

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

Cobra II: 281hp
SuspensionHelical coil suspension
Operational
range
Cobra: 752 km Cobra II: 700km
Maximum speed Cobra: 115 km/h (72 mph) Cobra II: 110mile/h

Durability

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

In December 2016, footage of an ISIL attack against Turkish M-60 Sabra tanks circulating the Internet, showed the crew of a Cobra APC surviving a direct hit from an ISIL RPG.[3]

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 and Spike missiles or surface-to-air missiles.[1]

Cobras can be used as amphibious combat vehicles. Turkish naval forces are currently looking for a new amphibious vehicle and the Cobra is listed among the candidates for acquisition.

Otokar Cobra II
Otokar Cobra II at the IDEF 2019
TypeInfantry mobility vehicle
Place of originTurkey
Service history
In service2013–present
Used byTurkish Armed Forces, Turkish Police, Turkish gendarmerie
Production history
DesignerOtokar
ManufacturerOtokar
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+7
Engine6.7L, six-cylinder, water cooled, turbo charged, common rail, diesel engine
281hp
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 existing Cobra, is an infantry mobility vehicle designed and produced by Turkish company Otokar.[4]

Cobra II is a 4x4 wheeled armoured vehicle and has a capacity for nine personnel including the driver and the commander.[5] It features high level of protection against threads from improvised explosive devices, land mines. Among its various functions are security and peacekeeping operations and border protection. The personnel carrier can be produced in different versions, including amphibious, according to different security requirements of the user thanks to its modular design.[6]

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). Rear view camera, thermal front camera, air conditioning system, blackout lighting system and a towing eye are among the standard equipment of the vehicle. It can be additionally fitted with a self-recovery winch, a CBRN defense filtration kit, automation fire extinguishing system, navigation system, intercom system and an auxiliary power unit. The 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) heavy vehicle is powered by a 6.7L six-cylinder, water-cooled, turbo charged diesel engine coupled with an automatic gearbox (six forward and one reverse) generating 281hp. It has a maximum speed of 110 km/h (68 mph) and can operate in range of 700 km (430 mi). It can be optionally equipped with a remote controlled weapon system (RCWS) of 25 mm machine gun or with a low altitude air defense missile system of HISAR-A and with a grenade launcher.[5]

It serves in the Turkish Armed Forces and security forces. It is also used by several other countries as well as by the United Nation in peacekeeping missions.[6] The development of the armoured vehicle, which is used for patrolling at the Syria–Turkey barrier, was funded by the European Union.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[8] Powered by a 6.7 L, six-cylinder, water cooled, turbo charged, common rail diesel engine that produces 281 hp, its maximum road speed is 110 km/h on roads and has a maximum cruising range of 700 km[9] with an operating temperature from -10 up to 45 degree C.

Otokar has received orders for the Cobra II both from an undisclosed customer and from the Turkish Armed Forces.[8]

In late 2015, the Turkish Armed Forces ordered 82 Cobra II vehicles plus related systems, maintenance and support worth $52 million.[8][10][11] 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.[12] Assuming the same value to vehicle ratio as the 2015 order, this would imply an order of about 180 vehicles.[12]

Cobra II amphibious

There is an amphibious and slightly larger variant of the Cobra II with a more powerful 6.7 L, 360Hp, V6 turbocharged engine that is capable of crossing lakes and smaller bodies of water.[13]

Export

Bangladesh

Received 47 Cobra APC in 2016 and 115 Cobra II MRAP in 2019.[14] More planned (600+) in future.

Pakistan

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

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[15] were used by the special forces of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs during their assault on the city in the Battle of Tskhinvali. One of the Cobras were destroyed and captured during 2008 South Ossetia war by Russian army.[16] Cobras are also being used by Georgian UN forces in the Central African Republic.

Nigeria

The Nigerian military has deployed Cobras during operations against the terrorist Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east of the country since 2013.[17]

Afghanistan

Cobras are used by the Turkish Armed Forces in Afghanistan.

Turkey

Cobras 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 armoured vehicles.[18] This has, in part, led to additional orders for the improved Cobra II.[11]

Cobras have also been used effectively by the Free Syrian Army against ISIS and YPG during Operation Euphrates Shield.

Burkina Faso

A Burkinabe army vehicle was struck by an IED in the area of Kompienbiga, after hitting an IED laid by terrorists, the explosion overturned the army vehicle upside down, after which it caught fire. At least three dead and four wounded.[19]

Operators
Map of Otokar Cobra operators, in blue

Current Cobra operators

Cobra II current and planned operators
  • With the Slovenian Armed Forces
  • Otokar Cobras during 2011 Baku Military Parade
  • Cobra cockpit design
  • Macedonian Army Cobra 4x4
  • Otokar Cobra of Bangladesh Army

See also

Sources
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  2. "Otokar Cobra is a true all-terrain fighting machine". Fox News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Il493DPkMQ
  4. "Cobra II". Otokar. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  5. "Cobra II Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle". Army Technology. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. "Otokar to present its COBRA II and ARMA 6x6 at GDA 2017". Army Recognition. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  7. Popp, Maximillian (29 March 2018). "EU Money Helped Fortify Turkey's Border". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  8. "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.
  9. "Cobra II Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle". Army Technology. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
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  11. "Turkey Picks Otokar for $52M Armored Vehicle Contract". Defense News. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
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  14. "Trade Registers". SIPRI. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  15. Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, Final report Volume III. Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine p.121
  16. "Russians are working on Otokar Cobra technologies". Archived from the original on 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  17. "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. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
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  19. ""Кобра" устарела: защита бронеавтомобиля оказалась недостаточной". Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Archived from the original on 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-03-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "ناقلات الجنود المدرعة تركية الصنع !". Archived from the original on 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
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  25. de Cherisey, Erwan (13 November 2019). "Ghana Army shows new Otokar Cobra vehicles". IHS Jane's 360. Paris. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
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