The 2A42 Cobra is an overhead-mount modular one-man
gun turret
A gun turret (or simply turret) is a mounting platform from which weapons can be fired that affords protection, visibility and ability to turn and aim. A modern gun turret is generally a rotatable weapon mount that houses the crew or mechani ...
designed by the ZTS Dubnica nad Váhom design bureau. It is specially designed to fit many different types of tracked and wheeled IFVs and APCs such as the
BMP-1
The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, in service 1966–present. BMP stands for ''Boyevaya Mashina Pyekhoty 1'' (russian: link=no, Боевая Машина Пехоты 1; БМП-1), meaning "infantry fighting ...
,
BMD-1
The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970. BMD stands for ''Boyevaya Mashina Desanta'' (Боевая Машина Десанта, which literally ...
,
BTR-70
The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier (russian: бронетранспортер/ ''Bronetransporter'', or literally "Armoured Transporter") originally developed by the Soviet Union during the late 1960s under the manufacturing ...
,
BTR-80
The BTR-80 (russian: бронетранспортёр, bronyetransportyor, literally "armoured transporter") is an 8×8 wheeled amphibious armoured personnel carrier (APC) designed in the USSR. It was adopted in 1985 and replaced the previous ...
and the
OT-64 SKOT
The OT-64 SKOT (Czech acronym for: ''Střední Kolový Obrněný Transportér'', and/or Polish Średni ''Kołowy Opancerzony Transporter'' – medium wheeled armoured transporter) is an amphibious, armored personnel carrier (8x8), developed join ...
.
Description
The turret weights 1.05 tonnes without the equipment. The equipment provided for the turret meets modern combat requirements for protection of both the crew and the transported troops. It also allows accurate fire in all weather conditions, both by day and at night and while the vehicle is on the move. The turret is able to successfully operate in temperatures ranging from −30 °C up to +50 °C. The turret can turn through 360°, while the main gun and coaxial machine gun can be elevated or depressed between −4° and +50°.
The weapons with which the turret is armed are externally mounted. The interior of the turret provides complete electrical equipment for operating the weapons, ammunition magazines and a seat for the gunner. Controlling the weapons and moving the turret is accomplished by means of drive units with a manual duplicity if the electric system were to fail.
Armament consists of the
30mm 2A42 multi-purpose autocannon and the
7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun with a 2-plane stabilization system. The weapons are controlled through the gunner's control panel. It is possible to integrate the
anti-tank guided missile
An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. ATGMs range in size from shoulder ...
(ATGM), or antiaircraft guided missile (AAGM), depending on the customer's requirements.
The turret is equipped with the modernized
BPK-2-42 periscopic sight with a swing of the mirror from −5° up to +60°. The sighting system is equipped with a night vision device.
The turret control system enables the crew to check the function of individual systems, aim at a target by day and at night, control drive units of both traverse of the turret and elevation of the main gun, stabilize the position of the turret and the main gun, control mounted weapons and control elevation/traverse drives and weapons through emergency manual mode if the electrical system was to fail.
The turret is equipped with turret fiber-glass linings, internal overpressure and a filtro-ventilation unit as a means of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons (NBC) protection. The armor plating provides protection against bullets up to 14.5 mm caliber within the frontal arc and against bullets up to 7.62 mm caliber fired at any point on the turret. The turret is also equipped with six
81 mm 902V "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers fitted to both sides of the turret providing the vehicle with the ability to lay its own smoke screen.
References
ZTS Dubnica nad VáhomSVK - Veža 2A42 - COBRA / COBRA II (vežový komplet)
{{DEFAULTSORT:2a42 Cobra
Remote weapon stations
Weapons of Slovakia