Otokar Cobra
The Cobra is a family of armored vehicles produced by Otokar of Turkey. It is produced in two generations.
| Otokar Cobra | |
|---|---|
An Otokar Cobra in Bangladesh victory day parade | |
| Type | Infantry mobility vehicle |
| Place of origin | Turkey |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997–present |
| Used by | Operators |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Russo-Georgian War Kurdish–Turkish conflict Boko Haram insurgency Operation Euphrates Shield Operation Olive Branch Kosovo War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Otokar |
| Manufacturer | Otokar |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Cobra: 6,200 kg |
| Length | Cobra: 5.23 m |
| Width | Cobra: 2.22 m |
| Height | Cobra: 2.1 m |
| Crew | Cobra 1+8 |
| Engine | Cobra: 6.5 L, GM V8 diesel, water cooled, turbo charged Cobra: 190 hp |
| Suspension | Helical coil suspension |
Operational range | Cobra: 752 km |
| Maximum speed | Cobra: 115 km/h (72 mph) |
The Cobra (Turkish: Kobra) is an armoured tactical vehicle developed by Turkish firm Otokar.[1][2]
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]
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.[citation needed]
Cobra II
| Otokar Cobra II | |
|---|---|
| Otokar Cobra II at the IDEF 2019 | |
| Type | Infantry mobility vehicle with MRAP capabilities |
| Place of origin | Turkey |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2013–present |
| Used by | Operators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Otokar |
| Manufacturer | Otokar |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) |
| Length | 5.6 m (18 ft) |
| Width | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Crew | 2+7 |
| Engine | 6.7L, six-cylinder, water cooled, turbo charged, common rail, diesel engine 281 hp |
| Suspension | Helical 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 amoured tactical 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 threats 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, 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). 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.[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 Nations 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][unreliable source?] 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]
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).[citation needed]
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]
Export
Bangladesh
Received 22 Cobra IMV in 2007–2008, 22 in 2013, and 67 Cobra II MRAP in 2017–2018.[13]
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.[citation needed]
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[14] 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 by the Russian army.[15] Cobras are also being used by Georgian UN forces in the Central African Republic.[16]
Nigeria
The Nigerian military has deployed Cobras during operations against the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east of the country since 2013.[17]
Turkey
Cobras are actively being used by the Turkish Armed Forces within the country for anti-terrorism operations.[citation needed]
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 Turkish backed militias against ISIS and YPG during Operation Euphrates Shield.[citation needed]
Cobras were used by the Turkish Armed Forces as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force and Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.[citation needed]
Burkina Faso
A Burkinabe army vehicle was struck by an IED in the area of Kompienbiga, after hitting an IED laid by insurgents. The explosion overturned the vehicle, after which it caught fire; there were three killed and four wounded in the incident.[19]
Operators
Cobra
- Azerbaijan[20]
- Algeria[1]
- Bahrain[21][22]
- Bangladesh[23]
- Burkina Faso[24]
- Chad[25]
- Ghana[26]
- Georgia[1]
- Kazakhstan[27]
- Kosovo[28]
- Maldives[1][unreliable source?]
- Mauritania[29]
- North Macedonia[30]
- Montenegro[31]
- Nigeria: 194 Cobras.[32]
- Pakistan[33]
- Rwanda: 30 Cobras.[32] Used in UN peacekeeping ops in the Central African Republic.[32]
- Slovenia[34]
- Syria — Small number captured from ISIL, which in turn captured them from Turkish-backed rebel forces[35][36]
- Syrian National Army
- Turkey[1]
- Turkmenistan — 100+ bought in the mid-2010s. Used by the State Border Service.[37]
- United Arab Emirates[1]
- United Nations[38]
Cobra II
Gallery
With the Slovenian Armed Forces
Otokar Cobras during 2011 Baku Military Parade
Cobra cockpit design
North Macedonian Army Cobra 4x4
Otokar Cobra of Bangladesh Army
Georgian Otokar Kobra
See also
- Komatsu LAV of Japan
- Véhicule Blindé Léger of France
- Dozor-B of Ukraine
- VN-4 of China
- P2 (armoured vehicle) of Indonesia
- MOWAG Eagle
Sources
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Cobra Light Armoured Vehicle - Army Technology". army-technology.com. from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ . Fox News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "Kurdish insurgents attacked Turkish Otokar Kobra with RPG" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Cobra II". Otokar. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ a b c "Cobra II Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle". Army Technology. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Otokar to present its COBRA II and ARMA 6x6 at GDA 2017". Army Recognition. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ Popp, Maximillian (29 March 2018). "EU Money Helped Fortify Turkey's Border". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Otokar's Cobra II 4x4 receives its first orders | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
- ^ "Cobra II Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle". Army Technology. from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
- ^ "Turkey contracts Otokar for Cobra II armored vehicles". UPI. from the original on 2016-06-12. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
- ^ a b c d "Turkey Picks Otokar for $52M Armored Vehicle Contract". Defense News. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
- ^ a b c d "Turkey orders more Cobra II armoured vehicles | IHS Jane's 360". www.janes.com. from the original on 2016-06-26. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
- ^ "Trade Registers". SIPRI. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, Final report Volume III. 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine p.121
- ^ "Lostarmour ID: 22283". lostarmour.info.
- ^ "Georgian Military Conducted Patrolling in the Central African Republic - News - MOD.GOV.GE". mod.gov.ge.
- ^ "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. 22 August 2013. from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "Turkish army to upgrade armored vehicles - POLITICS". hurriyetdailynews.com. from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ ""Кобра" устарела: защита бронеавтомобиля оказалась недостаточной". Rossiyskaya Gazeta. from the original on 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
- ^ "ناقلات الجنود المدرعة تركية الصنع !". from the original on 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ Pike, John. "Bahrain - Army Equipment". www.globalsecurity.org. from the original on 2017-03-11. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ . defencebd.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ de Cherisey, Erwan (20 December 2018). "Burkina Faso shows new Cobra armoured vehicles". IHS Jane's 360. Paris. from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. from the original on 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
- ^ a b de Cherisey, Erwan (13 November 2019). "Ghana Army shows new Otokar Cobra vehicles". IHS Jane's 360. Paris. from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ . MİLLİYET HABER - TÜRKİYE'NİN HABER SİTESİ. 7 May 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ . MFSK - MKBS - MKSF. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "Mauritania deploys new armoured vehicles for peacekeeping mission". janes.com. from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "DM Besimi receives Turkish donation for ARM". Влада на Република Македонија. 6 December 2012. from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "Ministarstvo nastavlja nadogradnju "cobre"". vijesti.me. from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ a b c (PDF). www.janes.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Cobra Armored Personnel Carrier". from the original on 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-03-09.
- ^ "36.000 evrov za uro leta". Prvi interaktivni multimedijski portal, MMC RTV Slovenija. from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "Video: captured Turkish Otokar Cobra armored vehicle". Defence Watch. 30 December 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "NDF on Twitter: Another Turkish armored (Otokar Cobra) has been captured by Syrian Army from #ISIS #EastAleppo". Twitter. 11 March 2017. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn (15 January 2022). "Blue's Clues: Turkmen Otokar Urals And Cobras". Oryx Blog.
- ^ "Turkey's Otokar Wins Armored Vehicle Contract From UN". Defense News. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "Otokar Cobra II ve Nurol Ilgaz zırhlıları Fildişi Sahilli'nde görüntülendi". 6 August 2022.
- ^ "Yeni Akit Gazetesi - Haberler - Son Dakika Haberleri".
- ^ French: Des Otokar Cobras pour l’armée tunisienne
External links
- Explosives and Small Arms Test carried out in 1997.