A scale model of Milkor UAE's Commander high-speed patrol craft on display at NAVDEX 2025. (Janes/Kate Tringham)
Development of Milkor UAE's new 16 m Commander high-speed patrol craft is nearing completion and the company is poised to launch the vessel to market in the coming months.
Speaking to Janes at the NAVDEX 2025 exhibition, held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February, James Cottrell, Milkor UAE's head of marine projects, said the prototype vessel was progressing through its final stages of qualification testing and will be ready to launch to market during the first half of 2025.
Development of the Commander patrol craft started in 2023 and a scale model was displayed in public for the first time at the World Defense Show in Riyadh in February 2024.
Based on an aluminium monohull design, the Commander is tailored for high-speed long-range missions, including maritime patrol, interception, surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations.
The vessel has a full load displacement of 20 tonnes, an overall length of 16.5 m, a beam of 4.4 m, and a draught of 0.8 m. It can be powered by either two Caterpillar C12.9 1,000 hp engines or alternatively two Volvo D13 1,000 hp engines, combined with twin Hamilton HJ403 waterjet propulsion units or alternatively two MLP 400X waterjets. It has a maximum speed of 45 kt and a cruising speed of 35 kt at a range of 500 n miles.
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