Image source: topwar.ru
Cobra II in an anti-tank version
After the transfer of significant amounts of equipment to the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of European countries, they faced a shortage of it for their own needs. In this regard, there is an increase in the number of new deals involving the supply of new armored vehicles.
On March 21, 2024, the Bundeswehr acquired sWaTrInf wheeled infantry fighting vehicles from Rheinmetall, placed on the Boxer 8x8 APC chassis: for €2.7 billion, the German company is to transfer 123 units of equipment to the army in the period from 2025 to 2030.
The SwaTrInf are considered to be the successors of part of the Wiesel tankette fleet. They will be equipped with manned Lance turrets with a 30 mm Mk 30-2ABM automatic cannon and a Spike-LR2 ATGM. The vehicles will be used by the so-called "medium-weight" brigades, already equipped with Boxer armored personnel carriers, of which the Bundeswehr has acquired a total of about 400 units.
Image source: topwar.ru
sWaTrInf
Recently, the Swedish Ministry of Defense ordered from the Finnish company Patria another 321 wheeled armored personnel carrier Pansarterrängbil 300A (Patgb 300A, local designation Patria 6x6) for motorized, anti-aircraft and artillery units. The contract value is €0.46 billion and it should be closed in 2030. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2025.
Earlier, in April 2020, Stockholm purchased 20 cars of this model in a pre-production version. The Patgb 300A will be adapted to the requirements of the Swedish army, in particular, the vehicles must be equipped with smoke launchers and a remotely controlled combat module (a rotary manned turret was used in pre-production vehicles) with various types of weapons, depending on the specific modification (heavy machine gun, automatic grenade launcher or ATGM). At the same time, options for a commander's and an ambulance are provided.
The tender of the Romanian Ministry of Defense is nearing completion, providing for the selection of a supplier of 1,059 4x4 wheeled armored vehicles for more than $ 1 billion. The French company Arquus (which offered the Sherpa armored car) and the American Oshkosh have already dropped out of it. The reason was the strict requirements, both technical and financial, which some experts assessed as unrealistic. In the case of Oshkosh, Bucharest expected, among other things, technology transfer, which the US Congress was unwilling to agree to.
As a result, only one participant remained in the Romanian tender – the Turkish company Otokar with the BA Cobra II 4x4. The manufacturer offers to supply them in 9 variants, including modifications of an armored personnel carrier, an anti-tank vehicle, a reconnaissance platform, and an advanced observation post. It is expected that the contract for their supply will be concluded by the end of the year.