Otokar, the global land systems manufacturer of Turkey, participated in the IDEX International Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on February 20-24, 2023. Otokar showcased six vehicles from its wide armoured vehicles range during the exhibition.
The following vehicles were showcased: AKREP II Armored Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Weapons Platform Vehicle, with COCKERILL CSE 90LP 90mm turret system; ARMA 8×8 Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle with 30 mm MIZRAK turret system; TULPAR Tracked Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle with 30 mm MIZRAK turret system; COBRA II Armored Personnel Carrier; COBRA II MRAP Mine-resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle; and ARMA 6×6 Armored Personnel Carrier.
“WE STAND OUT WITH OUR CAPABILITIES IN THE GLOBAL DEFENSE INDUSTRY”
General Manager Serdar Görgüç stated that IDEX is particularly important to Otokar as the company elevates its position in the global defence industry to higher levels every year, “In addition to being a NATO and United Nations supplier, we currently have nearly 33 thousand military vehicles in the inventories of close to 60 users in more than 40 countries. We reflect on the experiences we gain in different climates and geographies around the world in our vehicle development activities. As a result, we stand out in the global defence industry with our products, world-class know-how, engineering success, R&D, and technological capabilities. IDEX provides us with an invaluable opportunity in line with Otokar’s objective of reinforcing international partnerships, especially in the Gulf Region, and opening to new markets.”
“THE MIDDLE EAST AND GULF REGIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US”
Serdar Görgüç noted that many variants from Otokar’s broad range of military vehicles have successfully served different forces in the Middle East and Gulf Regions since the early 2000s, “The Middle East and Gulf Regions are important to us. Otokar Land Systems, the company we established in 2016, has brought us closer to our clients in the region. The company enables us to observe the needs and expectations of our existing and prospective users better. In the last seven years, we accomplished major projects with Otokar Land Systems. In 2017, we signed an important contract for procurement of 8×8 tactical wheeled armoured vehicles and in 2021 we successfully completed deliveries despite the pandemic. Thanks to our superior design, testing and manufacturing capabilities, we quickly respond to the constantly evolving needs and expectations of our users. Today, Otokar also stands out with its technology transfer and local production capabilities. We look forward to a productive exhibition period and hope to build on our relations with our existing users at IDEX.”
NEXT-GENERATION MODULAR ARMORED VEHICLE: AKREP II
AKREP II, which is built on the globally successful AKREP armored vehicle range that Otokar first developed in 1995, is designed as an armored reconnaissance, surveillance and weapons platform. Combining high firepower and survivability in a low silhouette, the AKREP II range, designed to meet the current and future needs of modern armies, offers a modular construction that comfortably carries turrets up to 90mm cannon.
AKREP II’s four-wheel drive system and steerable rear axle (optional) give the vehicle excellent maneuverability. AKREP II can operate with equal ease on all challenging terrain conditions, whether soft sand, deep mud, or snow. Relying on the four-wheel independent suspension and swift torque control of the power pack, AKREP II can travel cross-country over challenging terrain and traverse deep mud, snow or water with equal ease. The maneuverability of AKREP II is crowned with crab steering motion, which comes with a steerable rear axle.
AKREP II controls the basic mechanical components of steering, acceleration, and deceleration electrically (drive-by-wire). This makes it possible to remote control the vehicle, or adapt the driving assistance systems and autonomous capabilities.
As a multi-role vehicle suitable for different types of missions, AKREP II has the ability to provide effective firepower without compromising survivability. Medium-calibre turrets up to 90 mm can be integrated. AKREP II can also be configured as a weapon platform for quick reaction, surveillance missions, armed reconnaissance, air defence missions, forward observer, and other similar tasks.
AKREP II has the advantage of combining low silhouette, high mine protection, and effective firepower on the same platform. AKREP II can be equipped with alternative powerplants: diesel, hybrid, and electric.
TACTICAL WHEELED ARMORED VEHICLE: COBRA II
COBRA II offers a high level of protection, payload capacity, and large internal volume. In addition to superior mobility, COBRA II APC also comes with the capacity to accommodate 10 personnel including the driver and commander, offering high protection against ballistic, mine and IED threats. Delivering high performance in the toughest terrain and climate conditions with a high power-to-weight ratio, COBRA II is tested rigorously in different parts of the world, on the toughest terrain and climate conditions, and made thousands of miles. Preferred especially for offering a wide range of weapons integration and mission equipment options, COBRA II is successfully in service for border protection as well as internal security and peacekeeping missions in different users. The modular structure of COBRA II also makes the vehicle a flexible platform to be used as a personnel carrier, weapons platform, ground surveillance radar, CBRN reconnaissance vehicle, command control vehicle, and ambulance.
BUILT FOR THE TOUGHEST MISSIONS: COBRA II MRAP
The COBRA II Mine-resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (COBRA II MRAP) is developed to ensure high survivability in risky areas. The vehicle provides superior protection for the crew against ballistic, mine and IED threats while maintaining high cross-country mobility in battlefield conditions with its independent suspension system. It is specifically designed to provide high reliability, and ease of maintenance.
With its modular design, COBRA II MRAP provides a high payload and spacious internal space for the integration of weapon systems and mission equipment. The vehicle can be configured with alternative seating layouts for up to 11 personnel with 3 or 5-door configurations as per specific user requirements.
ARMA MULTI-WHEELED VEHICLE RANGE
The ARMA multi-wheeled vehicle range is a combat-proven IFV family and a modular platform for various missions. ARMA meets the survivability, protection level, and mobility requirements of modern armies. In addition to its high combat weight and spacious interiors, the ARMA range also draws attention with its low silhouette. Thanks to an amphibious kit, the vehicle can swim in the water without any preparation and travel up to 8 kph.
The armoured monocoque body with high ballistic and mine protection is a modular platform that allows the integration of mission equipment or weapon systems with different specifications. ARMA can be used with weapon systems ranging from 7.62 mm to 105 mm, and provide a suitable platform for command and control, engineering, ambulance, recovery and similar vehicle variants.
TRACKED ARMORED INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLE: TULPAR
TULPAR Armored Tracked Vehicle stands out with mobility, high firepower, and survivability features. TULPAR is designed as a multi-purpose vehicle with variants ranging from 28000 kg to 45000 kg to fully satisfy future global requirements. The future-oriented perspective of modularity is to increase operational flexibility by using common components and a common chassis over a wide range of vehicle variants. TULPAR comes in several variants that share common subsystems.
Tested in the toughest climates and on rough terrain by different users worldwide, TULPAR boasts best-in-class ballistic and mine protection with modular armour technology and armour structure that can be configured and scaled according to threats.
In addition to providing an effective solution in missions that require high firepower, TULPAR can serve in all kinds of combat environments from urban, built-up areas and light bridges to woodlands and all terrains especially soft surfaces where main battle tanks are unable to operate due to their heavy weights.
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