Otokar showcased the first COBRA II armored vehicle manufactured locally within European Union territory at the BSDA 2026 defense industry fair in Bucharest, Romania's capital. The company continues to strengthen its defense industry presence in the region through this first production unit from the 1,059-vehicle contract awarded by Romania's Ministry of National Defence in 2024.

Under the agreement valued at approximately 857 million euros (excluding VAT), more than 270 COBRA II armored vehicles were manufactured by Otokar in Turkey and delivered to the Romanian military. The first vehicle to be locally produced in Romania recently rolled off the production line and took its place at the exhibition. This development exemplifies Otokar's strategy of technology transfer and establishing local production capacity in allied nations.

The COBRA II features a modular design scalable from 28 to 45 tons, enabling various configurations ranging from personnel carrier to command and control variants. The vehicle provides high ballistic and mine protection while maintaining personnel safety across all terrain conditions. Tailored to Romania's specific technical and tactical requirements, the COBRA II is preferred by over 20 users across 13 countries worldwide, recognized for its mobility and superior protective characteristics.

Otokar's exhibition stand also featured the TULPAR tracked armored fighting vehicle. With its modular architecture scalable from 28 to 45 tons, the TULPAR adapts easily to different mission profiles while enabling common hull and subsystem usage across configurations. The vehicle has undergone comprehensive testing in challenging climatic and terrain conditions, delivering high ballistic and mine protection levels.

The third platform displayed represents a collaborative effort among Otokar, Romania's leading defense industry company BlueSpace Technologies, and Turkey's autonomous systems pioneer Elektroland. This next-generation unmanned ground vehicle features a NATO-compatible modular 6x6 platform designed to meet Romania's Armed Forces' Multi-Purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle requirements. The consortium aims to strengthen Romania's defense industry ecosystem and establish permanent local capacity in unmanned systems technology.

Otokar General Manager Aykut Özüner emphasized pride in COBRA II being the first Turkish armored vehicle produced within EU borders, positioning Romania as a strategic hub for managing defense supply processes across Europe. Otokar Military Vehicles Deputy General Manager Sedef Vehbi stated the company's commitment to becoming a reliable partner in tracked vehicles for Romania and the region, affirming that TULPAR represents an ideal solution for the region's armored fighting vehicle requirements.