Otokar Cobra

Otokar Cobra
Type	Armoured Vehicle
Place of origin	Turkey
Service history
In service	1997 - Present
Used by	Operators
Wars	2008 South Ossetia war - Turkey-PKK conflict - War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Production history
Designer	Otokar
Manufacturer	Otokar
Specifications
Weight	combat weight 6200 kg
Length	5.23m
Width	2.22m
Height	2.1m
Crew	1+8
Main armament	Rafael Overhead Weapon Station
Secondary armament	Spike missile
Engine	Water cooled turbo charged 6.5 litre 190hp
Power/weight	31 horsepower per ton
Suspension	Helical coil suspension
Operational range	752 km
Speed	115 km/h (72Mph)

The Cobra (Turkish: Kobra) is a wheeled armoured vehicle developed by Turkish firm Otokar, using some components from the American HMMWV.^[1][2] It was first delivered to the Turkish Army in 1997^[1] and most recently, won a contract from a buyer for APV and 4X4 unarmored tactical vehicles.^[3]

Survivability

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

Variants

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, 20mm cannon, anti-tank missiles such as the TOW missile/Spike missile or surface-to-air missiles.

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.

Combat history

During the Battle of Tskhinvali of the 2008 South Ossetia war, Cobra vehicles were used by special forces of Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs during their assault on the city. Some of the vehicles were equipped with 12.7 mm heavy machine guns ("Utyos") and some with 40 mm automatic grenade launchers (AGL).^[4]

Otokar Cobra is also used by the Turkish Army in Afghanistan and in Anti-Terrorist operations in northern Iraq

Operators

•  Algeria - 600^[5]
•  Azerbaijan - ^[6]
•  Bangladesh - 24 Cobras have been procured to test in Bangladeshi condition. There is a future plan to procure more. In 2010 Bangladesh Police purchased 7 Cobra APC's.^[7]
•  Bahrain - N/A^[5]
•  Georgia - 300 + in service of Georgian police and military forces
•  Maldives - 5 Cobras^[1]
•  Nigeria - 193 Cobras
•  Slovenia - 10 Cobras; NBC recon variant, possible future sale of more units ^[5]
•  Turkey - 789 Cobras
•  United Arab Emirates - N/A
•  Pakistan - N/A
•  Malaysia - 257 Cobras ordered.
•  Russia - N/A Captured in Georgia from 2008 war.

Gallery

• 

  Azerbaijani Armed Force

• 

  Otokar Cobras during 2011 Baku Military Parade

See Also

• Komatsu LAV of Japan
• Véhicule Blindé Léger of France
• MOWAG Eagle

Sources

1. ^ ^{a b c} Army Technology Cobra Page.
2. ^ Jane's Cobra Page.
3. ^ http://www.army-technology.com/news/news105373.html?WT.mc_id=DN_News
4. ^ Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, Final report Volume III. p.121
5. ^ ^{a b c} Undersecretariat for Defense Industries.
6. ^ [1]
7. ^ BDMilitary.com | Otokar Cobra APC

External links

• Explosives and Small Arms Test carried out in 1997.
• Otokar of Turkey