Otokar Cobra Wheeled Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV)

The Otokar Cobra series of light-armored and -armed military vehicles has seen considerable adoption around the globe since 1997.

 Updated: 7/26/2017; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

The Otokar Cobra is an armored car developed for the Turkish Armed Forces. It is specifically categorized as an "Infantry Mobility Vehicle" and intended as a light-class, lightly-armored go-anywhere, do-anything solution for the modernizing Army service. The Cobra sports a high-ground clearance for excellent cross-country capabilities and a V-shaped hull to help deflect blasts from land mines and other hidden explosive threats. The vehicle entered service in 1997 and has already seen combat service in Afghanistan, Georgia and Kosovo as well as locally - pitting Turkish military forces against the PKK.

Two major variants of the Cobra have appeared - the original Cobra vehicle and the updated Cobra II (the latter debuting in 2013). The original fits a General Motors V8 6.5L diesel-fueled, water-cooled turbocharged engine of 190 horsepower while the Cobra II carries a 6.7L, six-cylinder, water-cooled turbocharged engine of 281 horsepower. Both vehicles utilize a Helical coil suspension system and similar forms. Dimensions between the two vary only slightly with the Cobra II being heavier (12,000kg vs 6,200kg) and dimensionally larger (5.6mx2.5mx2.2m) with seating for 2+7 (as opposed to 1+8).