The upgrade process was a collaborative effort involving the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), the French defence procurement agency (DGA), the French Army, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), Lockheed Martin, and ESG. This teamwork led to the retrofitting of the first batch of COBRA systems, which are now fully operational and in serviceable condition.
This initiative represents the first phase in a broader campaign to retrofit a total of 20 COBRA systems in France and Germany by the end of 2025. The newly installed positioners address critical obsolescence issues and significantly enhance the reliability of the systems.
The COBRA (COunter Battery RAdar) programme, operational since 2005 with deliveries completed in 2007, is a testament to the longstanding cooperation between Germany and France in defence technology. An In-Service Support (ISS) contract with ESG, renewed at the end of 2022, along with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the NSPO, ensures comprehensive logistical support and maintenance of the COBRA systems until 2025. Managed by the OCCAR-EA COBRA Programme Division, these efforts include system improvements and obsolescence rectifications initiated in 2019 as part of a Mid-Life Upgrade to extend the systems’ lifecycle.
Recognized as the world’s most advanced land-based weapon locating system, COBRA can detect and classify enemy artillery, rocket launchers, and mortar positions within a 100 km range, and is capable of locating up to 40 batteries in just two minutes. Its high-performance radar, sophisticated processing capabilities, and integrated command and control communications system make it a critical asset for both offensive operations and peacekeeping missions.
