Otokar Cobra | |
---|---|
Otokar Cobra in an Azerbaijani military parade. This Cobra is armed with a machine gun and a mounted gunshield. | |
Type | Armoured vehicle |
Place of origin | Turkey |
Service history | |
In service | 1997 - Present |
Used by | Operators |
Wars | 2008 South Ossetia war - PKK–Turkish conflict - War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) |
Production history | |
Designer | Otokar |
Manufacturer | Otokar |
Specifications | |
Mass | combat weight 6200 kg |
Length | 5.23m |
Width | 2.22m |
Height | 2.1m |
Crew | 1+8 |
| |
Engine |
Water cooled turbo charged 6.5 litre 190hp |
Power/weight | 31 horsepower per ton |
Suspension | Helical coil suspension |
Operational range | 752 km |
Maximum speed | 115 km/h (72Mph) |
The Cobra (Turkish language: Kobra) is a wheeled armoured vehicle developed by Turkish firm Otokar.
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).[1]
Otokar Cobra is also used by the Turkish Army in Afghanistan and in Anti-Terrorist operations in northern Iraq.
The Nigerian Military used the Cobra extensively during operations against the terrorist Boko Haram Insurgency in the North-East of the country in 2013 [2]
Operators[]
- Azerbaijan - [3]
- Bangladesh - 30
- Georgia - 300 + in service of Georgian police and military forces
- Kazakhstan - 30 + in service of the 36th Air Assault brigade
- Maldives - 5 Cobras[4]
- Macedonia - 1 Donation from Turkey [5]
- Nigeria - 204 Cobras [6]
- Slovenia - 10 Cobras; NBC recon variant, possible future sale of more units [7]
- Turkey - 1200 Cobras
- Pakistan - 10 Cobras in service with the Pakistan Army.[8]
- Kosovo - 150 Cobras (under negotiation 80 more) [9]
Gallery[]
See also[]
- Komatsu LAV of Japan
- Véhicule Blindé Léger of France
- MOWAG Eagle
- Humvee
Sources[]
- ↑ Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, Final report Volume III. p.121
- ↑ http://beegeagle.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/security-operations-in-insurgency-prone-emergency-rule-areas-of-n-e-nigeria-eid-el-fitr-celebrations-8-9-august-2013-photo-credit-sunday-alambaassociated-press/#comments
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Army Technology Cobra Page.
- ↑ Government of Macedonia
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Slovenian paper
- ↑ "Cobra Armored Personnel Carrier". http://www.military-today.com/apc/cobra.htm.
- ↑ [3]
External links[]
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The original article can be found at Otokar Cobra and the edit history here.