Milkor has made significant strides in expanding its presence across all spheres of defence and security. This was particularly evident at the IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 exhibitions in Abu Dhabi last month where Milkor unveiled its new 30-metre vessel for the first time.
“I think it’s one of the busiest shows that I’ve ever attended and I’ve attended quite a few globally,” Daniel du Plessis, Milkor’s Marketing and Communications Director told defenceWeb. He said it was a good showcase for Milkor especially as the company has a local presence, and the show gave potential end users in the Middle East a chance to see Milkor’s products firsthand.
The company’s new 30-metre Interceptor is aimed at providing quick response and situational awareness capabilities for inshore patrol operations such as counter-piracy and illegal fishing, for example. Key features include a top speed of up to 50 knots and an integrated flight deck designed for operating a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with 3.5-meter wingspan, complete with control station and maintenance facility. Up to three UAVs can be accommodated on board.
The vessel can also accept a deployable 3.4 metre rigid-hulled inflatable boat and two aft deck heavy weapon stations. Additional features include satellite communications, Furuno radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) gimbal, and HF radio for connectivity, navigation, imaging, and distress safety.
This new offering is set to add to Milkor’s existing naval capability, with the company already having designed and produced the smaller Milkor IPC (Inshore Patrol Craft) which is primarily aimed at near shore patrols, coast guard, and policing operations. Additionally, Milkor is in the process of significantly expanding its naval offerings with systems such as the Arsenal, Commander, and Ripper, all of which are sub-35-metre vessels aimed at bringing speed and awareness to inshore naval operations.
Notably, according to James Cottrell, Head of Marine Projects at Milkor UAE, Milkor’s new 16-metre Commander high-speed and long-range patrol craft is the final stages of qualification testing and set to launch in the first half of 2025.
Development of the Commander started in 2023 and a scale model was displayed in public for the first time at the World Defense Show in Riyadh in February 2024. The aluminium monohull design has a full load displacement of 20 tonnes, an overall length of 16.5 metres, and can be powered by either two Caterpillar C12.9 1 000 hp engines or alternatively two Volvo D13 1 000 hp engines, driving waterjets. This gives a maximum speed of 45 knots and a cruising speed of 35 knots for a range of 500 nautical miles.
“We’ve actually branched out to a whole range of vessels that cater for different clients ranging from BMA to Coast Guard to Navy to special forces and marines as well,” du Plessis emphasised.
Milkor’s naval offerings are reflective of the company’s growing international presence and ambition and the UAE’s drive for locally produced systems. Speaking to defenceWeb, du Plessis said that “the office in UAE is predominantly responsible for the naval systems development and manufacturing as well. So, a lot of the in-house design and manufacturing capabilities for the naval systems that we produce also resides there as well.”
Since relocating its naval headquarters to the UAE, Milkor has focused on deepening local and regional partnerships as well as expanding its capabilities, with du Plessis telling defenceWeb: “we’ve expanded our naval capabilities in terms of naval architects, ship builders, different mechanical engineers and propulsion engineers as well as various different elements that come together with developing new naval systems.”
He added that Milkor’s naval operation are aimed at filling a “key gap in the market for inshore patrol operations, essentially boats that are 6 to 35 meters specifically used in coast guard or naval applications maybe by marine forces as well, to do inshore naval patrol operations.”
“At the moment this is what we’ve seen in in the African continent, but this is also applicable in the Middle East and globally as well: issues around piracy, illegal fishing activities, and various smuggling activities. While in the Middle East we’ve seen a lot of insurgents and insurgent groups using naval platforms and close to shoreline operations to actually intercept some freighter vessels and container ships.
“In Asia we specifically see, because of the multitude of islands in the various shared oceans and maritime borders that they have there, a lot of infringement on these things and as well as a lot of smuggling activities.”
As Milkor continues to expand its global presence and its naval offerings the company is confident that it has be capability to meet market demands and continue its strong growth trajectory.
