Milkor responds to global piracy surge with Commander fast patrol vessel at DIMDEX 2026.

Milkor presented a scale model of the Commander fast patrol vessel at DIMDEX 2026 in Doha, a 16.5-meter aluminium monohull designed and built in Abu Dhabi for maritime security, law enforcement, and patrol missions

In January 2026, Milkor presented a scale model of the Commander fast patrol vessel at DIMDEX 2026, a 16.5-meter aluminium monohull designed and built in Abu Dhabi for maritime security, law enforcement, and emergency response missions. The Commander comes at a time when global piracy, smuggling, and maritime crimes significantly increased in 2025, which is reinforcing the demand for such high-speed patrol and interception vessels.
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The Milkor Commander's propulsion consists of either two Caterpillar C12.9 diesel engines or two Volvo D13 diesel engines, each rated at 1,000 horsepower, allowing a top speed of 45 knots and a cruising speed of 30 knots. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Milkor Commander's promotion coincides with a measurable increase in maritime security incidents compiled by the International Maritime Bureau in 2025, and this increase will likely reinforce the demand for such fast patrol and interception vessels. A total of 137 piracy and armed robbery incidents were recorded globally in 2025, compared with 116 in 2024 and 120 in 2023, indicating a clear year-on-year increase. These incidents included 121 vessels boarded, four hijackings, two cases where vessels were fired upon, and ten attempted attacks. Violence against crews also increased, with 46 seafarers taken hostage and 25 kidnapped during 2025, compared with 12 kidnappings the previous year, alongside ten crew threatened, four injured, and three assaulted. The reported use of firearms rose to 42 incidents in 2025, up from 26 in 2024, which will also drive the need for patrol vessels that can be armed and well-protected.

Development of the Commander started in 2023, with an initial scale model displayed at the World Defense Show in Riyadh in February 2024, followed by the appearance of a full-scale prototype at NAVDEX in Abu Dhabi in February 2025. Sea trials and qualification activities were conducted through 2024 and 2025, with the vessel frequently operating off the coast of Abu Dhabi during this period. These trials focused on validating maneuverability, endurance, and seakeeping before market introduction. The vessel will continue to be presented at international defense and maritime exhibitions during 2026. All design, engineering, prototyping, and manufacturing activities for the Commander are concentrated within Milkor’s naval division in Abu Dhabi.

The Commander is an aluminium monohull vessel measuring 16.5 meters in length, with a beam of 4.4 meters, and a draught of 0.8 meters. With a full load displacement of 20 tonnes, the Milkor Commander can accommodate a core crew of four personnel, with capacity for six additional troops or specialists, while some configurations allow up to ten crew members or up to twelve personnel for shorter missions. The shallow draught enables operations close to shore and in confined littoral waters, while the hull structure is engineered to remain stable at high heel angles and is approved for operation up to Sea State 5, with the ability to operate in wave heights reaching 4 meters.

Propulsion is provided by twin diesel engines, with customers able to select either two Caterpillar C12.9 engines or two Volvo D13 engines, each rated at 1,000 horsepower. These engines drive twin waterjet systems, with either Hamilton HJ403 or MJP 400X units. This configuration allows the patrol vessel to reach a maximum speed of 45 knots and a cruising speed of 30 knots, depending on the operating profile. Operational range is stated at 500 nautical miles at cruise speed. Waterjet propulsion supports shallow-water operations, rapid acceleration, and strong maneuverability across the speed envelope. During trials, the vessel demonstrated the ability to complete a full high-speed turn within a 48-meter radius, equivalent to approximately three boat lengths.

Sea trial activity off Abu Dhabi included repeated high-energy maneuvers such as crash stops, figure-eight patterns, hairpin turns, and sustained runs at varying speeds. These trials were intended to validate handling, propulsion performance, and crew safety under demanding operating conditions. The Commander is designed to operate further offshore and in rougher sea states than many patrol craft of similar size, extending its operational envelope beyond sheltered coastal waters. Long-duration cruises were conducted alongside maneuver testing to assess endurance and system reliability under continuous operation.

Crew protection measures are focused on law enforcement and interdiction scenarios. The Commander can be equipped with an optional B6-level protected cabin incorporating bullet-resistant glass and spall lining to provide resistance against small arms fire and fragmentation. The vessel supports integration of a remote weapon station, enabling weapon operation from within the protected cabin and reducing crew exposure during engagements in counter-piracy operations. The aluminium hull further contributes to the structural resilience while maintaining a low overall displacement, supporting speed and range requirements without additional armor weight beyond the protected cabin.

Situational awareness is supported by an integrated sensor suite consisting of a multimodal radar, an electro-optical and infrared gimbal for long-range identification, and a 360-degree thermal camera to provide close-range coverage. This sensor suite allows the Milkor Commander to detect, track, and identify surface contacts across different ranges and environmental conditions. Navigation, communication, and mission systems are integrated to support patrol, interception, and search and rescue tasks. Within Milkor’s wider naval portfolio, which includes rigid inflatable boats, inshore patrol craft, unmanned surface vessels, and larger designs up to about 30 to 35 meters, the Commander occupies an intermediate position between small coastal interceptors and larger offshore patrol vessels, reflecting a balance between speed, range, crew protection, and sea-state tolerance.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.