Turkey's leading defense manufacturer Otokar is making strides in expanding its presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with its latest offerings of Rabdan 8x8 vehicles, which play a crucial role in ground troop operations. The company showcased six vehicles at the IDEX International Defense Industry Fair in Abu Dhabi, including the Akrep II Armored Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Weapon Platform Vehicle, the Cockerill CSE 90LP with a 90-millimeter turret, the Arma 8x8 Armored Combat Vehicle with a 30-millimeter Spear turret system, and the Tulpar Tracked Armored Combat Vehicle with a 30-millimeter Spear turret.
This move aims to solidify Otokar's position in the UAE's defense industry. Visitors to the Otokar booth at the fair were treated to a closer look at a range of vehicles, including the Cobra II Armored Personnel Carrier, Cobra II MRAP Mine-Proof Armored Vehicle, and Arma 6x6 Armored Personnel Carrier. According to Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç, the Cobra vehicles are particularly popular in the region.
The IDEX is one of the most important defense events worldwide, bringing together delegations from various regions, including Far and Central Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Görgüç believes that it provides a productive environment for international users to discuss potential projects and purchases.
Otokar already has a subsidiary in the UAE called Otokar Land Systems and operates in the country through Al Jasoor company. Görgüç noted that Al Jasoor had delivered an 8x8 vehicle project in four years, and the first phase had been completed in the previous year. Being in the UAE allowed Otokar to engage with users and discuss potential variants, applications, and other needs related to their existing 8x8 project.
The 8x8 vehicle project for the UAE is not only significant within the country and Turkey but also on an international level. With a total of 400 vehicles, this is a major project, and Otokar won the contract in 2017. As the user gained confidence in the vehicle's performance, Otokar began exploring different uses and variants to meet various needs. Currently, the company is in contact with the user through Al Jasoor, as they discuss the tools needed for a battalion-level organization.
Looking ahead, Görgüç expressed hope that there would be further projects related to Rabdan vehicles in the coming days. Otokar aims to bring the 8x8 ambulance vehicle they exhibited at the fair to the country. The ambulance version of the Rabdan vehicle was tested by the medical units in the UAE and was successful.
Otokar Land Systems is also operating in Bahrain and Kuwait, providing Arma, Ural, Cobra and Cobra 2 vehicles for four different forces in Bahrain and two different users in Kuwait. In addition to supplying these vehicles, Otokar has also established maintenance facilities in both countries, and negotiations are ongoing for new products to meet emerging needs.
With 78% of its 2022 turnover coming from exports, Otokar is focused on diversifying its offerings beyond exports to include a wider range of products and expand to new markets worldwide. The company's key goal is to add at least one, and ideally two, new countries to its user base every year. Otokar's entire team is working hard to identify emerging market trends and develop innovative new products that meet the evolving needs of customers worldwide, according to Görgüç.
