South Africa’s defence manufacturer Milkor is displaying a wide range of weaponry and capabilities at the Defence and Security 2022 expo in Thailand. Milkor is showcasing a wide range of weapon systems at the show as it seeks to make inroads in the market for defence equipment in the region.
The Thailand Defence and Security Exhibition 2022 is took place from 29 August to 1 September 2022 at the Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, where Milkor’s product range will be on display at stand N13.
Milkor plans to continue building on existing relations in the region. “We are focussed on establishing long term relations with the Asian continent and setting up relevant after sales support systems. This show provides us with the necessary platform to engage with the relevant parties and showcase our abilities as a defence solution,” said Tyron Lafferty, Head of Business Development Asia at Milkor.
“As we continue to build on existing relations in this region, we are excited to showcase the world leading capabilities we have to offer. Milkor wants to establish itself not only as a reliable defence equipment provider but also seek to collaborate with countries from this region to develop and enhance their local capabilities,” Lafferty said. Milkor has already opened offices in India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as it continues to build partners and expand globally.
Milkor is positioning itself as a key manufacturer and supplier of weapons within the Asian market. Its products has been well received in over 60 countries and is set to make a big impact in the Asian market. More than 65 000 of its multi-shot grenade launchers has been sold in several versions to armed forces around the world. The most recent addition to Milkor’s grenade launcher range is its automatic grenade launcher, designed to provide suppressive fire out to over 2 000 metres. The belt-fed weapon has a rate of fire of 400-500 rounds per minute and uses a variant of 40×53 mm grenade ammunition.
The company has expanded its weapons range with offerings including the SuperSix six-shot rapid-fire multiple grenade launcher, the Stopper Convertible single-shot lightweight grenade launcher, UBGL (Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher), and the newly developed MAR (Multiple Anti-Riot) grenade launcher.
Each weapon has meticulously been developed by end-user feedback in combination with the expertise of Milkor’s in-house weapons design experts, ensuring weapons are designed to the highest standards. Having supplied its weapons to more than 60 countries worldwide, Milkor’s weapons platform has already proven its capability in the field.
The SuperSix has the capability to fire 40mm less lethal, Low and Medium Velocity NATO ammunition in quick succession. With the effective range of lethal ammunition ranging from 30m to 800m (ammunition dependant), the SuperSix enables the operator to have a strategic advantage in scenarios ranging from Guerrilla and CQB type combat to medium range defensive and offensive operations compared to a traditional small caliber rifle.
Milkor’s Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV offers the Southeast Asian countries a solution to patrol the vast number of land and sea borders effectively and efficiently. With payload capabilities including the likes of SAR/iSAR, various EO/IR cameras and advanced communication systems, Milkor says it can provide a customised solution to suit the specific end user requirements.
The flagship Milkor 380 MALE UAV has a wingspan of 18 metres and has five hardpoints: two on each wing and one at the centre of the fuselage, with the ability to carry larger systems if needed – payloads can include guided munitions. All avionics, communications, and payload integration capabilities of the aircraft have been developed in-house by Milkor.
Ghaazim Rylands, Chief Executive Officer of Milkor Integrated Systems, in 2018 highlighted the development of its state-of-the-art ground control station (GCS), featuring the latest technology for its operators.
“The GCS is sophisticated yet simple and comfortable for long endurance missions. The team used input from experienced UAV pilots to create an environment where operators can truly focus on their objective, without unnecessary distractions”. According to Milkor’s published platform specifications, the system has a maximum endurance of 35 hours, a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 1300 kg, and an external payload capacity of 210 kg.
Milkor is seeking to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia, and has been granted investment license to manufacture weapons in the Arab country.
Milkor Saudi Arabia CEO MC de Beer said, “The investment license allows us as a foreign entity to continue with the legal registration of the new company, which will be a military equipment manufacturer and a considerable amount of vetting and trust building had to be done to achieve this milestone.”
“We are proud of the outcome and appreciate the support and modernized mechanisms put in place by the Saudi government to efficiently establish a foreign-owned entity; this only demonstrates their seriousness in making the industry thrive”, de Beer said.
Milkor hopes to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s substantial defence budget, which stands at $46 billion (R760 billion) this year, according to the Kingdom’s budget statement.
