Image source: topwar.ru
On November 27, the Turkish manufacturer of ground-based systems Otokar signed a contract with Romtehnica, representing the Romanian Ministry of Defense, for the supply of 1,059 light tactical armored vehicles Cobra II 4x4 worth €857 million.
At the same time, the first 278 cars will be manufactured in Turkey, and the rest in Romania (however, the degree of localization of production is not disclosed). Deliveries are expected to begin in the last quarter of 2025 and last for five years. The agreement also implies comprehensive logistical support.
Most likely, over a thousand copies of the Cobra II will replace such Soviet-era armored vehicles as the TAB-71 (local version of the BTR-60), TAB-77 (BTR-70), TABC-79 (4x4, simplified version of TAB-77), TAB B33 Zimbru (BTR-80). In total, the army has about 850 copies of all these types. In this regard, it can be expected that a significant part of this equipment will eventually end up in Ukraine. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that most of the park needs restoration.
Image source: topwar.ru
Introduced in 2013, the Cobra II is a 4x4 light tactical armored vehicle. As the successor to the Cobra I, it features improved modularity, increased performance characteristics, greater mobility and enhanced protection against ballistic threats, mines and IEDs.
The Cobra II with a gross weight of up to 13.5 tons is capable of transporting up to 11 people, including the driver and commander, has a spacious interior and can be adapted to solve tasks such as troop transportation, reconnaissance, control and communications, medical evacuation.
Image source: topwar.ru
The welded steel armor of the Cobra II provides protection from 7.62mm bullets, shell fragments and IEDs [the manufacturer does not name the mass of the charge that the equipment can withstand]. If necessary, additional armor can be installed. The main weapons options include a remote-controlled combat station or a turret with a 7.62- or 12.7-mm machine gun or a 25-mm automatic cannon.
Equipped with a 360-horsepower turbodiesel engine, the BA can reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h and cover a distance of up to 700 km.
