In partnership with local firm Romtehnica, Otokar has been awarded a contract valued at approximately €857 million (excluding VAT). The agreement entails the supply of over 1,000 COBRA II 4×4 armoured vehicles to the Romanian Armed Forces.
A significant portion of these vehicles will be manufactured locally in Romania. This initiative underscores Otokar’s commitment to contributing added value to the Romanian defence industry.
Otokar is a subsidiary of the Turkish conglomerate Koç Holding, which already has a presence in Romania through ventures such as the Ford Otosan plant in Craiova and the home appliances producer Arctic in Gaesti.
The COBRA II 4×4 tactical armoured vehicle, introduced in 2013, is actively used by more than 20 users across 13 countries. It is designed as a modular platform adaptable to various mission requirements and offers high protection against ballistic, mine, and improvised explosive device (IED) threats.
The contract specifies that the first 278 vehicles will be produced in Turkey, with subsequent units manufactured in Romania. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in the last quarter of 2025 and will continue in batches over a five-year period.
At the end of last year, İbrahim Aykut Özüner, Otokar’s General Manager, stated that the Romanian business would become the company’s most significant endeavour in 2025. He remarked, “Within a year, we will produce and send 278 vehicles (COBRA II) here.”
This development signifies a notable advancement in Romania’s defence capabilities and highlights the strengthening of Turkish-Romanian industrial relations. The local production of the COBRA II vehicles is expected to bolster Romania’s defence industry and enhance its operational readiness.
