Bangladesh Army Took Delivery of First Batch of Cobra II LAV

Bangladesh Army Took Delivery of Cobra II LAV.

Cobra is an Otokar development mainly for Turkish Land Forces. Turkey exported it to various other countries too. Latest advanced variant is the Cobra II which includes a variety of vehicles. Bangladesh Army bought Cobra I as well as Cobra II LAV version. 

This light armored vehicles (LAVs) has been leased in the United Nations Peace Keeping Missions in Africa. BD Army’s Cobra II LAVs has fitted with a remote weapon station features a 12.7mm machine gun along with automatic grenade launcher. A short range SAM system or ATGMs can also be added in the rooftop of this combat vehicle. 

Bangladesh Army ordered this vehicle as a commercial-off-the-shelf order to meet the urgent requirement. Initially 150-200 units has been bought to deploy in the UNPK missions. Later, more units will be ordered to equip the mechanized brigades. 

Recently Bangladesh-Turkey defense relations growing than ever. Bangladesh buying military equipment from Turkey in a greater extent. Previously Bangladesh Army & Police bought Cobra I APCs. So later selection of Cobra II LAV was based on previous user experiences. Turkey has a wide range of defense equipment and weapons systems which are latest development and currently being mass produced. Bangladesh can benefitted from Turkey’s defense industries in long term. And, Ankara fully supporting Bangladesh’s stance over myanmar’s Rohingya genocide. 

So, it can be assumed that Bangladesh-Turkey military and economic relation will grow by time. We’ll see more defense procurement by Bangladesh from Turkey. Joint-ventures can be formed to lower the development costs and engage both country’s defense industries which will share knowledge.