Cobra bites in deeply. (Digest).

ZTS and Metapol are now actively promoting their Cobra turrets. First seen on a comprehensively upgraded BMP chassis (known as the Cobra-S), the Slovakian turret can also be adapted to wheeled armoured vehicles. The BTR thus equipped and featured here is known as the Cobra-K, although the stabilised turret has also been mounted on an OT-64 and a Pandur 6 x 6 to prove its versatility. It goes almost without saying that the turret is designed to be Nato standard-compliant. As currently produced by ZTS, the one-man operated Cobra turret mounts an electrically controlled 30 mm, dual-feed 2A42 cannon (with selectable 200, 300 or 500 round-per-minute firing rates) and a coaxial 800 rpm 7.62 mm PKT machine-gun. Construction is of 7.62 mm-proof welded steel plate, includes a day/ night BPK-2 sighting system, affords an elevation of -4[degrees] to +50[degrees] and a slew rate of between 0.1[degrees] and 30[degrees] per second for an all up weight of 1100 kg. Six smoke grenade launchers complete the job, although provisions are made for the installation of antitank missile launchers. As with the Cobra-K, Metapol offers a totally upgraded BTR programme to include quick engine removal, central tyre inflation, environmental cooling/ventilation/heating system and improved armouring to bring it up to BTR-80 standards. (Metapol)