WDS 2026: Milkor Targets Saudi Vision 2030 with UAVs and Armored Systems.

At World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Milkor Communications Director Daniel Du Plessis outlined the South African company’s expanded presence across air, land, naval, and weapons systems. The company’s third appearance at the exhibition underscores its growing focus on Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East defense market.

During an interview with Army Recognition at World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Daniel Du Plessis, Communications Director at Milkor, detailed the company’s comprehensive display spanning unmanned aerial systems, armored vehicles, naval platforms, and advanced weapons systems. Marking its third participation in the Saudi-hosted exhibition, the South African defense group emphasized its long-term commitment to the Kingdom and the broader Middle East, positioning its diversified portfolio to align with regional modernization programs and localization initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030.
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 The Milkor 380 reflects the company’s expansion into aerial solutions, complementing its historical focus on weapon systems. (Picture source: ArmyRecognition)

Since establishing an office in Riyadh, Milkor has reinforced its regional presence through regular participation in the World Defense Show. The 2026 edition serves, according to the company’s representative, as a strategic platform to display the group’s capabilities to military and institutional delegations from multiple continents. The company reports a high level of official attendance in the final days of the exhibition, with interest covering its various operational segments.

A central element of the display is the Milkor 380 unmanned aerial system, presented as one of the group’s key products. The platform is associated with a growing order book and has drawn attention from Saudi clients. Discussions also address potential industrial localization linked to the system’s operational capabilities. The Milkor 380 reflects the company’s expansion into aerial solutions, complementing its historical focus on weapon systems.

For the first time at the show, Milkor also exhibits part of its land vehicle portfolio, including the Milkor Vanguard, integrated into live demonstrations. According to the company, the vehicle generates interest due to its suitability for desert environments, aligning with potential operational requirements in Saudi Arabia. This presentation underscores Milkor’s intent to position its land platforms in markets where climatic and geographic conditions require adapted and durable systems.

In parallel, Milkor displays its naval products as well as its weapons systems on the international stage. This multi-domain approach aims to demonstrate the group’s capacity to provide solutions spanning air, land, sea, and cyber domains. Engagements during the exhibition focus, according to the company, on identifying specific capability requirements and addressing security challenges faced by different states, both in the Middle East and beyond.

Beyond the Saudi market, Milkor indicates sustained interest from stakeholders in Africa and Asia. This geographic orientation reflects a strategy aimed at expanding into regions where defense modernization requirements remain substantial. Repeated participation in the World Defense Show forms part of a broader effort to consolidate industrial and institutional partnerships while increasing the group’s international visibility.

Milkor’s presence at the 2026 World Defense Show illustrates the trajectory of a manufacturer that is broadening its portfolio beyond its original core products. By diversifying its offerings across air, land, and naval sectors and seeking local partnerships, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the company supports the wider distribution of its platforms across emerging markets. The developments surrounding the Milkor 380 and the Vanguard indicate an export-focused strategy combined with regional integration initiatives, within a context marked by the continued expansion of multi-domain defense systems.