Otokar Initiates COBRA II Armored Vehicle Deliveries to Romania

Otokar, a leading Turkish defense manufacturer, has commenced the delivery of its COBRA II tactical wheeled armored vehicles to the Romanian Army. The initial batch, comprising 12 units produced at Otokar’s Automecanica Mediaș facility, was officially handed over to the Romanian forces on July 22nd.

According to reports from ProMotor and statements by Yusuf Fettahlıoğlu, General Manager of the Mediaș Factory, this inaugural delivery includes two distinct COBRA II variants. The procurement program outlines further deliveries, with an additional 204 vehicles in four different configurations scheduled for 2026. The Romanian Armed Forces’ total order encompasses 1,059 COBRA II armored vehicles, slated for delivery over the next five years. Significantly, over 780 of these units will be manufactured at the 140-acre Mediaș facility.

Automecanica Mediaș represents Otokar’s strategic European production subsidiary and its first manufacturing plant within the European Union. The facility, equipped with infrastructure meeting NATO standards, is evolving beyond mere assembly. It is being developed to undertake the complete production lifecycle of the 4×4 armored vehicle, ensuring robust local manufacturing capabilities.

Yusuf Fettahlıoğlu underscored that the COBRA II vehicles designated for Romania were specifically engineered to meet the tender’s stringent requirements, thoroughly tested by Romanian authorities, and successfully fulfill all stipulated technical specifications. He affirmed, “With nearly 40 years of experience in the defense sector and over 33,000 military vehicles in service across approximately 50 nations, Otokar provides Romania with the reliability of a global manufacturer and the unwavering commitment of a long-term local partner. We implement the exact same rigorous production standards here as we do in Türkiye. We have invested in modern equipment for the facility, and our commitment to ongoing investments will continue.”

The COBRA II, developed by Otokar and introduced into service in 2013, is a highly versatile 4×4 tactical wheeled armored vehicle. It is currently utilized by over 20 operators in 13 countries, with more than 600 units integrated into NATO inventories. Globally, the platform boasts over 30 different variants tailored to diverse operational needs.

Upon the full completion of the procurement program, the Romanian Armed Forces will operate COBRA II vehicles across 12 distinct configurations. These include critical roles such as personnel carriers, reconnaissance vehicles, remote weapon system (RWS) equipped personnel carriers, anti-tank platforms, anti-tank command vehicles, 120mm mortar carriers, 81mm mortar carriers, combat engineering vehicles, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) reconnaissance vehicles, and ambulance variants, significantly enhancing their operational capabilities.