The COBRA II armored vehicle project, one of the most significant export achievements of the Turkish defense industry, continues steadily in Romania. Aykut Özüner, General Manager of Otokar, made important statements regarding the record-breaking agreement signed with the Romanian Ministry of National Defence and Romtehnica, emphasizing that recent developments do not threaten the future of the project.

The contract, valued at approximately €857 million, covers the delivery of a total of 1,059 COBRA II 4x4 tactical wheeled armored vehicles. Under the agreement, the first 278 vehicles were produced in Türkiye and shipped to Romania. To date, 194 of these vehicles have already entered service with the Romanian Armed Forces, while acceptance procedures for the remaining units are still ongoing.

Romtehnica has raised compensation claims citing delays in certain intermediate milestones related to preparations for local production in Romania. Otokar, while reserving all legal rights, continues negotiations with the relevant authorities in good faith. Özüner underlined that such intermediate milestone evaluations are common in large-scale international defense projects and stressed that contract termination is not on the agenda.

A key strategic element of the project is the establishment of a local production facility in Romania. Otokar aims not only to deliver armored vehicles but also to transfer advanced production technologies and engineering capabilities. The Romanian facility is planned to include all stages of production, from welding and cutting to painting, assembly, and testing, enabling Romania to meet NATO standards and potentially export vehicles to regional markets.

The COBRA II program also strengthens Otokar’s position in Europe and serves as a strong reference for future opportunities, including potential tracked armored vehicle tenders. With its “produce locally, sell globally” strategy, Otokar continues to expand its footprint across allied and friendly countries, reinforcing its role as a reliable global defense partner.