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2016-08-01

COBRA II: Otokar’s long heritage of mastery

With superior levels of protection, increased internal volume and outstanding mobility, Cobra II to upgrade Otokar’s service to Turkey’s Security Forces.

Otokar, a Koc Group company which is the largest privately owned defence industry company in Turkey, has announced that they have received a €106.1 million order for COBRA II tactical wheeled armoured vehicles to be used by domestic security forces in various missions.

At the end of December 2015, Otokar announced that it had received a contract for the Cobra II, a vehicle first revealed at the May 2013 International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul.

Speaking about the order, Serdar Gorguc, Otokar general manager, said: “Last year we were awarded the first two orders for Cobra II that we designed at Otokar with our own intellectual property rights and specifically against increasing threats.

“Armed with our engineering capabilities and R&D strength, we will keep on providing state-of-the-art solutions for our users.”

The order includes COBRA II 4x4 tactical wheeled armoured vehicles and a variety of systems as well as maintenance and support systems. Vehicle deliveries are expected to start toward the end of the year and be completed in the first quarter of 2017.

Otokar’s mastery of product creation

Designed and manufactured by Otokar against upcoming threats and to meet users’ demands, COBRA II vehicles offer superior protection and outstanding mobility with increased internal volume.

It is the next generation vehicle developed over the existing Cobra vehicle, widely known worldwide for its performance and successful past track record in nearly 15 countries, with over 30 users. The knowledge and experience gained from the Cobra is put into practice on the design of COBRA II.

The Cobra II is a more heavily armoured successor to Otokar’s successful Cobra 4x4, which Otokar states is now operated by 15 countries.

At 12,000 kg the Cobra II has a combat weight that is roughly double that of its predecessor (6,900 kg), and is slightly wider, longer and taller - offering greater internal volume.

In an armoured personnel carrier (APC) configuration the vehicle can carry nine personnel (2 + 7), and the vehicle can be armed with a number of different weapons, including crew operated machine guns (MGs), and remote weapon stations armed with anything from MGs to short-range surface-to-air missiles.

Unlike the Cobra, the Cobra II is not amphibious as standard, although an amphibious version fitted with propellers and a different hull shape is also available.

COBRA II has successfully passed the tests conducted in the terrain and climatic conditions of the region. COBRA II has a modular structure for different missions, and is also available in an amphibious version developed specifically for export markets. During recent tests in a Gulf country for hot climate conditions and amphibious properties, Cobra II logged thousands of miles and successfully passed open water wading tests.

Demonstrating adaptabiliy and flexibility

COBRA II can be adapted to different challenging user requirements. The vehicle is a versatile and adaptable modular armoured platform and can be configured for various mission profiles. Therefore, all user requirements are fulfilled with a single platform reducing the life cycle cost of vehicles. Thus, it is possible to conceive, design and produce entirely new vehicle types within the family as needed, in a short time, rather than years, adding the flexibility to the military response to the ever-changing mission needs.

Engine of COBRA II produces high power, which provides a high power-to-weight ratio in the same class of vehicles, hence the vehicle produces satisfactory power in all conditions and the vehicle provides an outmatched performance in a wide range of challenging terrains and climatic conditions.

Another advantage of the engine is high torque combined with two speed transfer case producing huge amount of traction from tires to the road. With 6-speed automatic transmission and two transfer-case ranges, COBRA II offers the widest span of gear ratios. So whether crawling down a steep hill or cruising on the highway, there’s an optimum gear for the situation.

COBRA II can handle a gradient of 60 per cent, side slope of 30 per cent and fording depth up to 1m. The vehicle has extended-range fuel tanks giving an operational range of 700 km without resupply. It is capable of driving over 400mm vertical obstacle and provides wide approach and departure angles.

The vehicle is designed to provide amphibious capability optionally.

Amphibious COBRA II can swim in the water at a speed of 8 km/h by two propellers mounted one either side under the hull rear. It is capable of carrying carry up to 10 troops including driver, commander and gunner. The vehicle provides operational security for all troops.

A look to the future

COBRA II is able to provide not only the protection requirements of today, but also the future requirements of changing threats, if additional armor is needed in future.

It has sufficient payload to accommodate that additional weight and large interior space to accommodate future technologies without major change in the vehicle.

The vehicle has a low silhouette and shorter wheelbase. The vehicle is compact in dimensions, but large in interior space. The large interior space of COBRA II enables the installation of various mission equipment. The large interior space is vital to user’s future development and growth.

Therefore, COBRA II can be easily adopted for a wide range of roles and missions such as Personnel Carrier, Weapon Carrier, Command Control Vehicle, CBRN Reconnaisance Vehicle, Recovery Vehicle, Internal Security Vehicle, Air Defense Vehicle, Maintenance Vehicle and Ambulance Vehicle. It complies with widely used international transportation means and standards.

COBRA II provides many mission critical features such as Thermal Front Camera, Air Conditioning System, Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), Run-Flat Tires, Anti-Locking Brake System (ABS), Blackout Lighting System, Intervehicle Start Socket, Central Main Switch, Multipoint Seat Belts, Radio Provisions, in the standard configuration.

Various mission equipment such as Self-Recovery Winch, NBC Filtration Kit, Automatic Fire Suppression Systems, Radio, Intercom System, Navigation System, and similar is provided optionally acoording to specific user requirements.

ABOUT OTOKAR:

Otokar, founded in 1963, has been operating in the defence industry since 1987 and offering products with owned intellectual property rights, using its own technology, design and applications to provide solutions tailored to the needs of its customers.

Today, Otokar, a Koc Group company, is the largest privately owned defence industry company in Turkey, and the leading supplier of land defence systems for Turkish Armed Forces. Otokar designs and manufactures a wide range of defence industry products including 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 tactical wheeled armoured vehicles and tracked armoured vehicles with combat weights up to 60 tons as well as turret systems. Otokar is also the prime contractor of ALTAY,a main battle tank of Turkey.

Credit Photo/Text:

www.otokar.com

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