Turkish-Romanian Joint Venture to produce Cobra II Armored Vehicles in Mediaş

Otokar, the defense systems division of Turkey's largest conglomerate, Koc Group, announced on Friday that it has signed a joint venture agreement with one of the most important defense companies in our country, Automecanica SA Mediaş. The collaboration aims to produce in Romania the Cobra III 4x4 ATBTU armored vehicles for the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, within the "1059 Cobra II ATBTU" project.

The new joint venture, formed through this agreement, will have an equal shareholding structure, with each of the partners - Otokar Land Systems SRL and Automecanica Mediaş - holding 50% of the capital. Approximately 800 Cobra II 4x4 armored vehicles are expected to be produced in Romania, at the Mediaş factory. The joint venture's activities will include not only production, but also engineering, marketing and after-sales services, thus contributing to the development of the country's defense capabilities and stimulating the national economy.

Aykut Ozuner, CEO of Otokar, emphasized the importance of this agreement for the company's global expansion strategy, stating that "Otokar is the largest exporter of land systems in Turkey" and highlighted that this partnership represents "one of the most important steps in Otokar's growth strategy in the defense industry."

"As a global player/supplier, Otokar proudly operates in numerous regions around the world, with our military vehicles in active service in over 40 countries. As part of our ongoing project in Romania, we are pleased to announce the signing of the agreement to establish our new joint venture company, which will produce the legendary Cobra II vehicles, in Romania. This milestone represents one of the major milestones in Otokar's expansion strategy in global markets," said Aykut Ozuner.

In Otokar's vision, our country will become a strategic hub for the Turkish company's operations throughout Europe, an objective clearly expressed by Sedef Vehbi, Head of Otokar Military Division: "We underline Otokar's commitment to expanding its presence in Europe and we are ready to meet Romania's requirements. Through this partnership, Romania will become a strategic hub for Otokar's European operations. We are particularly proud to have been selected by the Romanian Ministry of National Defense for this landmark project. In line with our commitments to locate and deliver under challenging conditions to the respected Romanian government, we have chosen Automecanica SA Mediaş as a trusted local partner, following a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process. The company's already demonstrated technical skills and production capabilities played an essential role in this decision. Now is the time to move to execution, and we, as shareholders, are excited and fully committed to delivering excellence, while also contributing to strengthening Romania's defense capabilities."

• 1059 Cobra II vehicles for the Romanian Land Forces

On the other hand, Andrei Scobiola, CEO of Automecanica Mediaş, highlighted the company's essential role in this partnership and the positive impact on the local economy: "This collaboration represents an important step in supporting the Romanian Armed Forces and in stimulating the national economy. Our firm commitment to this project is undeniable; this partnership will play an essential role in developing Romania's local defense capabilities."

The agreement between Otokar and Automecanica Mediaş comes in the context of a major project started last year. On March 20, 2024, Otokar submitted its bid for the tender organized by CN Romtehnica SA for the acquisition of 4x4 light armored tactical vehicles. After successfully completing the technical evaluation, field tests and financial evaluation, Otokar was declared the winner of the tender and on November 27, 2024 signed a multi-year contract worth 4.26 billion lei for the supply of 1,059 Cobra II 4x4 armored vehicles to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense.

Under this contract, the first 278 vehicles will be manufactured in Turkey, with the rest to be produced in Romania, within the new joint venture with Automecanica Mediaş. Deliveries will begin in the last quarter of 2025 and will be carried out in installments over five years. The agreement also provides for the provision of integrated logistics support services, aimed at ensuring the maintenance and optimal operation of the vehicles throughout their entire service life.

Designed as a modular platform, the Cobra II military vehicle is adaptable for a wide range of missions and is actively used by over 20 customers from 13 countries. According to the Army Media Agency (presamil.ro), the Cobra II vehicle offers superior mobility, improved levels of ballistic protection against mines, increased payload capacity and a spacious internal volume, making it a substantial improvement over its predecessor Cobra I. With the capacity to accommodate up to 11 soldiers, including the driver and commander, the Cobra II provides robust protection against ballistic threats, mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the cited source also shows, which specifies that, according to the requirements imposed by the Romanian Army, at the initiation of the tender, the ATBTU must provide armor protection of at least K2, M2a and M2b levels (according to NATO AEP-55 STANAG 4569 - Protection levels for occupants of armoured vehicles). According to the cited source, the adaptability of this vehicle is one of its remarkable features, with various options for integrating weapons and equipment necessary to fulfill the mission. The modular design of the ATBTU Cobra II allows it to serve multiple purposes, including troop transport, reconnaissance, and support roles. Cobra II vehicles have proven their usefulness on the fronts in Ukraine, both in the MEDEVAC version and in the equipment of the Kraken regiment, the special operations forces unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR).

The cited source also indicates that, regarding the command and control software applications, these will be developed by a company in our country, from the first product delivered by the Turkish factory.

• Main characteristics of the Cobra II military vehicle

According to the armyrecognition.com website, the Cobra II vehicle is a modern armored vehicle, designed to provide an excellent balance between firepower, protection, mobility, and combat equipment adaptable to various missions. In terms of armament, this vehicle can be equipped with a remotely controlled weapon station mounted on the roof, which allows the installation of a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun or an automatic cannon with a caliber of up to 25 mm. The vehicle can also be equipped with smoke grenade launchers, thus increasing its defensive and tactical capabilities on the battlefield.

In terms of design and protection, the Cobra II has a classic configuration, with the engine located in the front, the armored compartment with four doors located in the center and a cargo area in the rear. The vehicle body is made of welded steel, providing effective protection against 7.62 mm bullets, shell fragments, mines, as well as improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The crew compartment floor can be supplemented with additional removable armor, depending on the needs of the mission. Bulletproof windows are located in front and on the sides of the driver and commander's positions, and the windshields have washing and wiping systems. The vehicle is equipped with two doors on each side, which open forward, facilitating quick access for personnel. In terms of mobility, the Otokar Cobra II benefits from a six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, which develops 360 horsepower at 2,650 revolutions per minute (rpm) and a torque of 1,100 Nm at 1,400 rpm. This engine allows it to reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h on roads and have an autonomy of up to 700 kilometers. The vehicle is capable of climbing slopes with an inclination of 60% and tackling side slopes of up to 30%. The Cobra II is equipped with a central tire inflation system, radial tires with run-flat inserts, anti-lock braking system (ABS), air conditioning and heating system, floating floor, roof hatches, weapon ports, observation periscopes and towing points located both at the front and rear. The ARMATRONICS electronic system integrates and manages the vehicle's electronic functions, including a driver's vision enhancement system and an integrated display. The vehicle also has a NATO-compatible lighting system for blackout conditions, a recording and playback system for video data and vehicle parameters, integrated diagnostics, a jump start socket, fog lights and preparation for the installation of radio systems.

To meet the diverse requirements of military operations, the Cobra II offers a wide range of optional equipment that can be adapted according to the specifics of the mission. These include a winterization kit, self-recovery winch, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) filtration system, automatic fire extinguishing and explosion suppression system, radio and intercom communication system, additional smoke grenade launchers, auxiliary power unit, GPS/INS navigation system, as well as options such as an emergency exit ramp door and a barricade removal device. All these features make the Cobra II an extremely versatile armored vehicle, ready to face the harsh conditions of the modern battlefield.