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Cobra 8×8 IFV
Hello everyone! Today I would like to suggest an Indonesian variant of the Pandur II. Unlike its current Czech or Portuguese brethren, the Indonesian variant uses the Ares UT30MK2 RCWS turret fitted with the 30mm Orbital ATK Bushmaster gun, capable of firing the Mk310 Air Burst Munition. One key feature missing in the Indonesian Version is the ATGM module.
The project is a collaboration between Indonesia’s PT Pindad and Czech’s Excalibur Army. The Indonesian version has an improved amphibious capability, as well as adjustment for tropical use, namely the addition of AC, anti-corrosion & anti-humid, other miscellaneous parts as well as the changing of the air cooling into water cooling. It also includes a flotation device surrounding the front and sides of the vehicle. They are mounted using the circular domes found throughout the exterior of the vehicle itself.
in short, speaking of the vehicle’s performance in-game, it would perform similarly to the other Bushmasters wheeled light AFVs around BR 9.7 but with the programmable ABM round. (most similar vehicle would be the French VBCI-2 (MCT30))
why is the name Cobra and not Pandur II?
The Cobra designation is the name used for the Pandur II in Indonesian service as well as the locally manufactured/assembled Pandur II by Pindad, however that term was coined only recently in 2019, as such both terms can technically be used interchangeably since they mean the same thing.
A. Background
Details
The Pandur II is an all-wheel-drive version of the Pandur 6x6 APC AV. It was originally developed by the Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge company, which is a part of the General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS). The vehicle is designed to be Air-transportable in a C-130 Hercules. The driver is seated on the front left side of the hull with the engine on the right-hand side. The Pandur II is made from an all welded steel plates construction. It has a coil springs suspension system with hydraulic shock absorbers, with dual control arms (lower transverse & upper longitudinal) per wheel. The front two wheel pairs are for steering, with it being hydraulically assisted via a dual-circuit system housed inside the armored hull. Additionally a steering brake reduces the vehicle’s turning radius, while a central tire-pressure regulation system allows the vehicle to be dynamically adjusted for crossing terrain. The wheels also include a run-flat system capable of functioning even when deflated. The vehicle uses the ZF-6HP602c 6-speed automatic transmission and it can swim up to 1.5 m depths using its twin rear-mounted water jets. It includes a trim vane, snorkel, and bilge pump for amphibious operations.
In 2016, Indonesia purchased a number of Pandur II APCs from the Czechoslovak Group which has an agreement with General Dynamics to produce and market these vehicles in Asia and both Central and Eastern Europe. In 2017 Indonesia reportedly received four Pandur II 8x8s, these vehicle would participate in the 72nd Indonesian National Armed Forces day on October.
Pandur II in the 72nd Indonesian National Armed Forces day
On April of 2019, the Indonesian MoD & Pindad signed a contract for another batch of 22 Pandur II that was supposed to be manufactured locally as the Pindad Cobra 8x8 IFV. In March the following year the Czechoslovak Gorup announced that, in collaboration with Indonesian producers, they will deliver an additional 23 units of the vehicle to Indonesia, following a contract signed in December of 2019. In 2022, then-Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto witness the signing of the cooperation contract between the Indonesian MoD and Excalibur International, a subsidiary of the Czechoslovak Group. The contract includes a license agreement for the Pandur II 8x8 armored vehicle, carried out by the then President Director of PT Pindad, Abraham Mose and the CEO of the CSG group, Michal Stranad. PT Pindad would receive a Transfer of Technology to assemble special specifications according to the needs of the Indonesian Army. This primarily revolves around adding a AC system, as well as changing components to fit better in the tropical weather. PT Pindad imported the Pandur II using two primarily schemes, namely CBU (Completely Built up) & CKD (Completely Knocked Down).
Cobra 8×8 in Pindad’s facility
On August of 2023, Indonesia received a further 11 units of Pandur IIs, later on in February of 2024 PT Pindad handed over 10 Cobra 8x8 units to the Indonesian Army, as well as an additional 23 units in October of the same year. Currently there is no plans to acquire more of the Cobra/Pandurs. The reasoning was rumored to be its long delivery time as well as the units operating the vehicles deemed it to be “too big” and preferring to use the 6x6 APCs like the Anoas. The most recent news of the vehicles is that in 2025, 18 of them (along with 12 Anoas) will be sent to Lebanon to be operated by the Garuda Contingent of Indonesia in the UNIFIL mission there.
Cobra 8x8 sporting a UN Camouflage
B. Specifications
Details
General Specifications
- Crew : 3 (Driver, Gunner, Commander) (can carry +8 troops in the rear)
- Length: 7.5 m
- Width: 2.67 m
- (~20-40cm additional length & width for floatation kit)
- Height: 3.1 m
- Weight (AoA): 17.6 t (22 t)
- Engine: Cummins Euro III 6-cylinder Diesel Engine
- Horsepower: 455 hp
- Max Speed (Sea-speed): 105 km/h (10 km/h)
- Acceleration: 0-50 km/h in 14s
- Armor: STANAG level 1-4
- Can clear 150cm wide trench & can climb up to 70% slope
Floatation kit thickness
Armament
Ares (Elbitsystems) UT30MK2 Turret (Unmanned,can also be manned)
- 30mm Orbital ATK Mk44 Bushmaster ABM
- Mk238 & Mk266 HEI-T
- Mk268 APFSDS-T
- Mk310 PABM-T
- 7.62mm coaxial Pindad SM-2 V2 Machine Gun
- No ATGM
Systems
- Turret is entirely overhead of the hull, no inside compartment
- Modular Ballistic Protection (STANAG 4569 Level 2, 3,4 or 6)
- under-armor reload capability
- Dual-axis stabilization
- Integrated Fire Control System (day/night/all weather)
- Laser Warning System
- Smoke Grenade Launchers (6x rear of turret)
- Stabilization for both Gunner & Commander sight (Commander has a hunter-killer sight)
- Integrated into the Indonesian CY-16H Battle Management System
- The Indonesian version does not have the ATGM installed
Gunner Sight and Laser Warning System Module
Brochure
C. More Images
Details
More Images
Cobra 8×8 IFV in PINDAD’s facility before being sent to the Garuda Contingent in Lebanon for the UNIFIL mission.
Cobra 8×8 during open sea test
Cobra 8×8 during mobility test
Cobra 8×8 operated by 14th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
Videos
Firing test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEBOiM1VH5s
Amphibious test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1RN0tBDW90
Mobility test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NtQrlV-AtA
Video of the vehicle by the 318th Mechanized Battalion
D. Sources
Details
- 11 Unit Ranpur Pandur II 8x8 Varian IFV Pesanan Kemhan Telah Tiba di Indonesia
- Ares UT30MK2 - Turret RCWS 30mm di Panser Pandur II 8x8 IFV TNI AD
- Kemhan Order Pindad Cobra 8x8, Varian dari Panser Tempur Pandur II 8x8 IFV
- Telah Bersiap di Cilegon, Inilah Tampilan Pandur II 8x8 dengan Kanon RCWS Ares UT30MK2
- Hadir Dalam Tiga Varian, Empat Pandur II 8x8 Telah Tiba di Indonesia
- Pandur II 8x8 FSV: Tawarkan Fire Power Maksimal Untuk Kavaleri TNI AD
- https://www.indomiliter.com/battlefield-management-system-cy-16h-telah-terpasang-di-120-panser-anoa-mbt-leopard-dan-ifv-marder/
- Percepat Alih Teknologi 8×8, PT Pindad kerjasama Pandur II dengan Excalibur Army | LANCER CELL
- DEFENSE STUDIES: Spesifikasi Meriam Ares UT30MK2 yang Terpasang di IFV Pandur II Milik TNI
- https://www.tempo.co/foto/arsip/kendaraan-tempur-panser-cobra-asal-ceko-tiba-di-indonesia-384580
- https://www.zonajakarta.com/nasional/67310965389/pt-pindad-sudah-mendapatkan-transfer-of-technology-ranpur-pandur-ii-8x8-media-asing-ternama-indonesia-sangat-beruntung?page=2
- 30mm x 173mm Air Burst Munition System. Orbital ATK Brochure
- (obtained from: 30mm & 20mm x 173mm Munition System)
- UT30MK2 & MT30 Unmanned and Manned Turrets. Elbitsystems brochure
- (obtained from: UT30MK2 Configurable Unmanned Turret)
- EXCALIBUR ARMY ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES: Pandur II. Excalibur Army Brochure
- (obtained from: APC / IFV | Military vehicles & equipment)
- Pandur II (8×8) - Wikipedia
- Mk44 Bushmaster II - Wikipedia
Any suggestions or corrections would be highly appreciated!Additionally, you can check out more Indonesian suggestions below!
