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Otokar Cobra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Otokar Cobra I
An Otokar Cobra in Bangladesh victory day parade
TypeInfantry mobility vehicle
Place of originTurkey
Service history
In service1997–present
Used byOperators
WarsWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Russo-Georgian War
Kurdish–Turkish conflict
Boko Haram insurgency
Operation Euphrates Shield
Operation Olive Branch
Kosovo War
Production history
DesignerOtokar
ManufacturerOtokar
Developed intoCobra II
VariantsConfigurable as Armoured Personnel Carrier, Anti-Tank Vehicle, Amphibious vehicle, Reconnaissance Vehicle, Ground Surveillance Radar Vehicle, Forward Observation Vehicle, Armoured Ambulance
Specifications
Mass6,200 kg (13,700 lb)
Length5.23 m (17.2 ft)
Width2.22 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Crew1+8
Engine6.5 L, GM V8 diesel, water cooled, turbo charged
190 hp
Transmission4-speed automatic
SuspensionHelical coil suspension
Operational
range
752 km
Maximum speed 115 km/h (72 mph)

The Cobra (Turkish: Kobra) is a armoured tactical vehicle developed by Turkish firm Otokar. The vehicle has some subsystems from the Humvee. The Cobra is the first generation of the Cobra family of vehicles, a second generation named Otokar Cobra II is also produced.[1][2]

Durability

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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] Otokar Cobras also have the option to be fitted with Q-Nets.

In December 2016, footage of a PKK attack against Turkish M-60 Sabra tanks circulated the Internet, showing the crew of a Cobra APC surviving a direct hit from a shoulder-launched, RPG-7 anti-tank rocket. [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]

Operational history

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Georgia

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Otokar Cobras during the Independence Day of Georgia parade, May 2008

In the 2008 South Ossetia war, Cobra vehicles equipped with 12.7 mm NSV machine guns and 40 mm automatic grenade launchers[4] 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 was destroyed and captured by the Russian army.[5] Cobras were also used by Georgian UN forces in the Central African Republic.[6]

Nigeria

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The Nigerian military has deployed Cobras during operations against the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east of the country since 2013.[7]

Turkey

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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.[8] This has, in part, led to additional orders for the improved Cobra II.

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

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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 attack.[9]

Operators

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Map of Otokar Cobra I operators, in blue

Cobra

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  • With the Slovenian Armed Forces
    With the Slovenian Armed Forces
  • Otokar Cobras during 2011 Baku Military Parade
    Otokar Cobras during 2011 Baku Military Parade
  • Cobra cockpit design
    Cobra cockpit design
  • Macedonian Army Cobra 4x4
    Macedonian Army Cobra 4x4
  • Otokar Cobra of Bangladesh Army
    Otokar Cobra of Bangladesh Army
  • Georgian Otokar Kobra
    Georgian Otokar Kobra
  • Otokar Cobra of Bangladesh Police
    Otokar Cobra of Bangladesh Police

See also

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Sources

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Cobra Light Armoured Vehicle - Army Technology". army-technology.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  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. ^ "Kurdish insurgents attacked Turkish Otokar Kobra with RPG". 21 April 2016 – via www.youtube.com.
  4. ^ Independent International Fact Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, Final report Volume III. Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine p.121
  5. ^ "Lostarmour ID: 22283". lostarmour.info.
  6. ^ "Georgian Military Conducted Patrolling in the Central African Republic - News - MOD.GOV.GE". mod.gov.ge.
  7. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Turkish army to upgrade armored vehicles - POLITICS". hurriyetdailynews.com. 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  9. ^ ""Кобра" устарела: защита бронеавтомобиля оказалась недостаточной". Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 25 December 2018. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  10. ^ "APA - Turkey's Otokar to complete Cobra armored vehicle supply to Azerbaijan in June - INTERVIEW". Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  11. ^ "ناقلات الجنود المدرعة تركية الصنع !". Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  12. ^ Pike, John. "Bahrain - Army Equipment". www.globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  13. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). "Chapter Five: Asia". The Military Balance. 124 (1): 249. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298593.
  14. ^ de Cherisey, Erwan (20 December 2018). "Burkina Faso shows new Cobra armoured vehicles". IHS Jane's 360. Paris. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  15. ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Turkey donates Otokar Cobras to Gambia". 29 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Türkiye'den Gambiya'ya Otokar Cobra zırhlı araç hibesi - SavunmaTR". 29 September 2023.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Otokar Kazakistan'da 'Cobra' üretecek". MİLLİYET HABER - TÜRKİYE'NİN HABER SİTESİ. 7 May 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Turqia e mbështet fuqishëm FSK-në". MFSK - MKBS - MKSF. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  21. ^ "Mauritania deploys new armoured vehicles for peacekeeping mission". janes.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Ministarstvo nastavlja nadogradnju "cobre"". vijesti.me. Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  23. ^ a b c "New-model African armies" (PDF). www.janes.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  24. ^ "DM Besimi receives Turkish donation for ARM". Влада на Република Македонија. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Otokar Cobra 4x4 APC officially serves in the Saudi National Guards". 5 April 2016.
  26. ^ "36.000 evrov za uro leta". Prvi interaktivni multimedijski portal, MMC RTV Slovenija. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  27. ^ "Video: captured Turkish Otokar Cobra armored vehicle". Defence Watch. 30 December 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ Mitzer, Stijn (15 January 2022). "Blue's Clues: Turkmen Otokar Urals And Cobras". Oryx Blog.
  30. ^ "Turkey's Otokar Wins Armored Vehicle Contract From UN". Defense News. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
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