MC de Beer, Chief Executive Officer, Milkor KSA
As modern militaries place greater emphasis on multi-domain capability, localisation, and long-term sustainment, Milkor continues to expand its footprint in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East. The company’s focus extends beyond platform delivery to building enduring, in-country partnerships aligned with regional defence priorities. In an interview with Arabian Defence, MC de Beer, Chief Executive Officer, Milkor KSA, discusses the strategy behind its growth in the Kingdom, the operational relevance of platforms such as the Milkor 380 MALE UAV, Frontier XL tactical vehicle and naval vessels, and how autonomy, AI and R&D are shaping its future. The conversation also highlights the importance of World Defense Show in strengthening regional engagement and showcasing Milkor’s evolving, localised capabilities.
Milkor has expanded significantly into Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East. What strategic vision shaped your presence in the Kingdom, and how does this align with long-term regional goals?
Milkor has a clear strategic focus on the Middle East. Our establishment and localization initiatives in the Kingdom reflect a long-term commitment to supporting sovereign defence capability with reliable, in-country after-sales support.
We operate beyond a traditional “sell-and-forget” model — instead, we build enduring partnerships that ensure our platforms remain operational, supported, and relevant for decades.
The Milkor 380 represents a major leap in unmanned systems. What makes this platform particularly relevant for today’s defence and security priorities?
The Milkor 380 UAS offers practicality in operation, resilience in integration and predictability in maintenance. All these elements are core to any military procurement methodology. The additional benefit of having full flexibility in subsystem integration whether being ITAR, non-ITAR, East, or West makes the 380 an elegant choice as a strategic military assets.
Milkor is advancing UAVs with greater autonomy, AI integration, and multi-role capability. How will these developments strengthen your edge in the defence market, and what next-gen features can users expect next?
We are seeing a clear shift in the market for a deeper level of autonomy with system-to-system communication and auto-governed engagement. The key would be to provide a hybrid solution were full autonomy exists but the reliability of direct operation remain. We have dedicated teams for AI enhancement and integration to ensure our equipment provide critical insights and improvements during the mission while still leaving the final decision to the operator.
Could you tell us more about your latest land product, the Milkor Frontier XL and how it meets the demands of modern military operations?
The Frontier XL (FXL) is a high-mobility light tactical vehicle designed for patrol, rapid response, and special operations. It features STANAG Level 1 blast and ballistic protection combined with a rugged 4×4 drivetrain.
With steep approach and departure angles, high-gradient mobility, and a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), it excels in difficult terrain. Its roof structure supports a wide range of remote-controlled weapon stations, while its modular rear bed allows rapid reconfiguration for different mission profiles.
The FXL is suited for military, law-enforcement, border security, and environmental protection roles.
Could you elaborate on how platforms such as Milkor’s Interceptor and Commander vessels can enhance naval operations?
The Milkor Commander is a fast patrol and interdiction vessel ideal for coastal and border security. It can be equipped with ballistic-protected cabins and fitted with sensors and weapon systems, including 40 mm automatic grenade launcher remote weapon stations. Its defining feature is flexibility — allowing operators to adapt the vessel to a wide range of mission requirements.
The Interceptor is a more specialised platform designed as a maritime launch and recovery base for VTOL unmanned aircraft. It provides onboard command-and-control, maintenance, and mission support, enabling sustained operations of up to 14 days with a crew of 12 — extending naval ISR far beyond the coastline.
Could you talk about Milkor’s R&D efforts, quality-control processes, and after-sales support?
Milkor has always been a powerhouse of rapid R&D ventures, we have been diversifying into the domains of Air, Land, Sea, Weapons, and Cyber with no end in sight. We continuously seek to innovate and reach new markets in defense and national security.
Quality assurance is embedded in every stage of our production process, ensuring that all systems leaving our facilities meet the highest military standards. After delivery, we remain fully engaged through long-term maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) support, ensuring sustained performance over the entire lifecycle.
What are the key highlights and priorities for Milkor at this year’s World Defense Show? How does this event support your engagement with regional stakeholders?
World Defense Show is a key milestone for Milkor to assess and demonstrate our progress in the Kingdom. We have supported regional clients since 2001, and since establishing Milkor KSA in 2022, we have significantly expanded our local footprint in alignment with Vision 2030.
WDS allows us to engage directly with our Saudi partners, strengthen long-standing relationships, and showcase solutions that are trusted, proven, and increasingly localised for the Kingdom.
