The Turkish company Otokar has announced that it has secured a significant contract for supplying Cobra II armored vehicles to Romania under localization conditions. The contract encompasses the delivery of 1,059 armored vehicles, of which 278 are to be manufactured in Turkey, while the remaining 781 will be assembled in Romania.
The total value of the agreement is approximately €857 million, excluding VAT. This means that each Cobra II armored vehicle costs around €809,000. Additionally, the contract includes comprehensive support and logistics services.
Delivery timelines have also been announced, which, in the current context, are just as crucial as the price and specifications of the armament. Deliveries are set to begin at the end of 2025 and will continue for five years. Therefore, the completion of Cobra II deliveries for Romania will occur after 2030.
It is worth noting that in the competition for the armored vehicle for the Romanian army, Otokar faced no competitors. Despite European and American manufacturers considering participation in the tender, only the Turks submitted their proposal. It should also be highlighted that the terms of the Romanian tender stipulated a fixed price of €857 million (4.58 billion lei) for the specified quantity of 1,059 units, along with localization conditions.
Furthermore, the Romanians established a maximum vehicle weight limit of up to 10,580 kg. This suggests that Otokar managed to make the Cobra II somewhat "lighter." Officially, the weight of this vehicle is indicated by the manufacturer to be between 13.5-14.5 tons, and in the MRAP version, it can reach up to 19 tons.
This clearly indicates that Romania will be equipping a lighter version of the Cobra II. As a result, their armor protection will likely be less substantial. However, it is quite challenging to determine the exact limits. Ultimately, Otokar does not publish specific data regarding the armor protection level of its Cobra II versions, only stating that the armor protects against small arms fire and mines.
Consequently, it is quite difficult to discuss other tactical and technical characteristics of the vehicle, as they are dictated by the combat weight. However, it is important to note that the 13.5-14.5 ton versions use a 360 hp turbo-diesel engine paired with an automatic transmission. The total capacity of the Cobra II is up to 11 personnel, including two crew members.
It is also essential to understand that this is a platform that can serve various functions. The base version with a machine gun combat module is just one of the options.
Additionally, the Cobra II is in operation in over 10 countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and Tunisia. These vehicles have also been spotted in the ranks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.