Otokar is preparing to increase its presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with new versions of Rabdan 8×8 vehicles, which form the backbone of ground troops.
Exporting the vehicles it produces for the defense industry to more than 40 countries, Otokar exhibited 6 vehicles at the IDEX International Defense Industry Fair held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.
At the Otokar booth, Akrep II Armored Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Weapon Platform Vehicle Cockerill CSE 90LP was introduced with a 90-millimeter turret, Arma 8×8 Armored Combat Vehicle with a 30-millimeter Spear turret system, and Tulpar Tracked Armored Combat Vehicle with a 30 millimeter Spear turret.
At the Otokar stand, visitors also had the opportunity to closely examine the Cobra II Armored Personnel Carrier, Cobra II MRAP Mine-Proof Armored Vehicle and Arma 6×6 Armored Personnel Carrier.
Otokar General Manager Serdar Gorguc told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they were one of the first exhibitors of the fair and that they have been participating since the end of the 1990s. Gorguc stated that Cobra vehicles were preferred in the country and they started to pursue big projects.
Emphasizing that IDEX should not be viewed as just a UAE fair, Gorguc said, “IDEX is one of the most important fairs in the world. There are delegations from Far Asia, Central Asia, Africa, Europe and even South America. It is a fair with a high number of international delegations. A productive environment is created where we come together with many international users and discuss possible projects and purchases.”
Stating that they have a company called Otokar Land Systems in the UAE, and that they operate in the country with the Al Jasoor company they established with Edge, Gorguc made the following assessments:
“We have an 8×8 vehicle project that Al Jasoor company delivered in 4 years. Last year, we completed the first leg of this project. For us, being in the UAE creates an environment where we can discuss the continuation of our 8×8 project with users and discuss other needs, possible variants and applications in the current 8×8 with users.
This project of the UAE was not only a big project in the country or Turkiye, but also at the international level. 400 8×8 vehicles is not always a possible project. As Otokar, we were successful in 2017. It was describing a type of vehicle. In the project, as the user gains confidence from the vehicle and sees its performance, different uses and different variants that meet different needs are being studied. At this stage of the project, we are in contact with the user through Al Jasoor. For a battalion-level organization in the project, they need tools that can do different tasks. We are discussing these tools with them. In the meantime, we are trying to put technological innovations and changes in these vehicles. In the coming days, I hope there will be suitable projects related to Rabdan’s vehicle.”
In this context, Gorguc stated that they aim to bring the 8×8 ambulance vehicle they exhibited at the fair to the country, and stated that the ambulance version of the Rabdan vehicle was tested by the medical units in the UAE and was successful.
New searches in the Gulf region
Gorguc also stated that Arma, Ural, Cobra and Cobra 2 vehicles in 4 forces are working in Bahrain, and that they have established a maintenance facility, and that negotiations continue for new products that will meet different needs here.
Gorguc said that they have vehicles and maintenance facilities serving 2 different users in Kuwait, and that their negotiations for new needs are continuing here as well.
Serdar Gorguc informed that Otokar Land Systems closely follows the needs of all Gulf countries.
Regarding the contribution of export activities to Otokar, Gorguc said:
“Otokar’s turnover has shifted to exports over the years. 78% of our 2022 turnover came from exports. We think that this will continue. Exports are important for us, but we want to create as much diversity as possible outside of exports. We aim to have different products for different users, in different countries as much as possible, not just one country. We want to spread to the whole world geography as much as possible. One of our goals at Otokar is to add at least one, if possible two new countries to our users every year. Our entire team is working in this direction.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz