Milkor demonstrates the Vanguard MRAP's capabilities at World Defense Show 2026.

Milkor conducted a live demonstration of its Vanguard 4x4 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle at World Defense Show 2026, which is configured for 2 plus 8 personnel, remains dimensioned for transport inside a C-130 Hercules, and is intended for infantry, border security, command, and medical roles.

Milkor conducted a live demonstration of its Vanguard 4×4 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle during the World Defense Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia. The South African APC is designed to meet NATO STANAG 4A/4B blast standards with protection against 10 kg anti-tank mines under the wheel and hull. Available in several configurations, including infantry transport, command, ambulance, and border surveillance missions, the Vanguard offers an operational range of up to 900 km while remaining transportable by C-130 aircraft.
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The Milkor Vanguard MRAP is configured for 2+8 personnel, powered by a 450 hp engine, and offers an operational range of up to 900 km while remaining transportable by C-130 aircraft. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Milkor conducted a live demonstration with its new Vanguard 4×4 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, which is intended for infantry fighting, border patrol, troop transport, command operations, field ambulance, border surveillance, and riot control tasks. The Vanguard was first launched publicly at Africa Aerospace and Defence 2024 (AAD 2024) at Air Force Base Waterkloof near Pretoria, where it formed part of a broader rollout that also included the Bushcat APC and the Frontier long-range patrol vehicle. The Vanguard is configured for two crew and eight passengers, with some configurations allowing 2+10 seating, and remains dimensioned for air transport in a C-130 Hercules aircraft.

As an APC designed to meet the MRAP standards, protection ratings for the Vanguard include NATO STANAG 4A and 4B blast protection, allowing it to withstand a 10 kg anti-tank mine under any wheel and under the hull, and STANAG Level 3 ballistic protection. The ballistic standard corresponds to protection against 7.62 x 51 mm armour-piercing rounds fired from 30 m at velocities up to 930 m/s. Like many MRAPs, the Vanguard APC incorporates a V-shaped hull geometry to channel blast effects away from the crew compartment. Seating remains 2+8 in standard configuration, and the design is positioned above STANAG 3 blast-rated vehicles, such as the Bushcat, in terms of mine resistance, while aligning with heavier MRAP categories in the 10 kg blast class.

The Vanguard possesses a tare mass of 15,500 kg and a gross vehicle mass of 19,500 kg, but thanks to a 336 kW (450 hp) engine, this MRAP reaches a power-to-weight ratio of 22 kW/t, which corresponds to 29 hp/t. In terms of performance, the South African 4x4 can reach a maximum road speed of 100 km/h, a maximum off-road speed of 80 km/h, and an operational range of 900 km. The Vanguard can also negotiate 60% gradients, 35% side slopes, and trenches up to 1 m wide, thanks to a 31° approach angle, a 45° departure angle, and a fording depth capacity of 900 mm.

Armament options include manned turrets or remotely operated weapon stations, smoke launchers, and integrated fire control solutions, with gunports enabling protected engagement from inside the vehicle in the APC configuration. The Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) variant supports remote-controlled or manned weapon systems for direct fire tasks. Electronic warfare options include jammers, countermeasures, and signal intelligence systems intended to disrupt adversary communications. The Military Field Ambulance (MFA) configuration allows installation of critical care systems for protected evacuation missions, while the Command Vehicle configuration incorporates mission management systems within a protected workspace.

The broader Milkor land portfolio presented alongside the Vanguard at AAD 2024 included the Bushcat 4×4 Armoured Personnel Carrier, developed from the earlier Milkor 4×4 and based on an IVECO truck chassis to facilitate maintenance and spares access. The Bushcat has a 12,000 kg gross vehicle mass, seating for two crew and eight passengers, a maximum speed of 110 km/h, and a range of 1,000 km. Protection is rated to STANAG 3A and 3B for blast and STANAG 2 for ballistic, including resistance to 7.62 x 39 mm armour-piercing incendiary rounds at 30 m and 155 mm shell fragmentation at 80 m. Configurations include APC, police riot control, police special operations, command vehicle, border surveillance, and field ambulance, with options for crewed or remotely operated weapon stations or turrets.

The Frontier patrol vehicle, for its part, is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser chassis and offered in 6×6 and 4×4 configurations, with civil, policing, border guard, paramilitary, and military variants. The 6×6 Frontier has a 4.5-liter V8 engine, an 8,700 kg gross vehicle mass, a capacity for up to 12 personnel depending on variant, maximum speed up to 120 km/h, and a range of 750 km, with roles including troop carrier, long-range patrol vehicle, rapid response vehicle, and vehicle-mounted weapon system, including multiple rocket launcher applications. The 4×4 Frontier has a 5,700 kg gross vehicle mass, similar speed and range figures, and versions including utility, border surveillance, rapid response, and raiding configurations. Armor options can reach B6 level in certain configurations, and both Frontier types can mount weapon stations but not full turrets.

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.