Latest news with #WhAP
Morocco World
5 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Report: Morocco Eyes Defense Autonomy Through Local Production
Rabat – A new report by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Morocco's Global Governance & Sovereignty Foundation provides a detailed look at Morocco's evolving military strategy. Faced with mounting regional pressure, Morocco has turned its focus to advanced air systems and the long-term goal of building a sovereign defense industry. The report names Algeria as Morocco's chief rival, as it ranks among the world's top three military spenders in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As a counter, Morocco has pursued a high-tech, targeted approach, favoring drones, helicopters, artillery, and missile defense systems over sheer volume. Drones, rapid surveillance In recent years, the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) have stepped up efforts to strengthen aerial surveillance and quick-response capabilities. In 2021, Morocco purchased 13 Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey for around $70 million, later adding six more units. These unmanned aircraft have since played a key role in tracking separatist activity in the south and patrolling remote border areas. In 2023, Rabat finalized an agreement for the more advanced Bayraktar Akinci drones. Though the number of units remains undisclosed, the report confirms the first deliveries have already taken place. The move is part of Morocco's shift toward air-centric gear that matches the terrain and the nature of the threats it faces, ranging from cross-border infiltration to external backing of separatist groups. Laying the groundwork for local defense production The report also cites Morocco's bid to stem its reliance on foreign suppliers. In early 2025, Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar announced plans to open a production and maintenance plant in Morocco. This came just months after Morocco signed a deal with India's Tata Advanced Systems to locally produce WhAP 8×8 armored vehicles. Imports from countries like the US, Israel, Turkey, China, and France feed into a strategy of supplier diversification, which the report calls essential to avoid overdependence and navigate shifts in international alliances. However, Morocco still faces hurdles in establishing an autonomous defense industry. The report points to gaps in advanced manufacturing, engineering skills, and local component production. It urges investment in training programs, industrial hubs, and a long-term vision for defense autonomy. Naval power, cyber defense lag behind Maritime security also figures into Morocco's broader strategic ambitions, especially given its role in monitoring the Strait of Gibraltar. The report calls for future expenditure in modern frigates and a clear national maritime strategy. Some steps have already been set in motion. The expansion of the Tangier-Med port, a maritime surveillance center launched in 2011, and the naval base at Ksar Sghir show Morocco's growing naval ambition. A new patrol vessel, built by Spanish company Navantia, is expected to join the Royal Navy in the coming months. At the same time, cyber defense continues to be a weak link. The report cautions that Morocco is still unprepared to counter cyber threats and calls for the creation of a dedicated cybercommand. With the country's tech sector expanding, the report sees room to train experts in cyber operations and build capacity for hybrid warfare. According to the report, alliances with partners such as NATO could help speed up this process and strengthen Morocco's defenses against misinformation campaigns and infrastructure attacks. Morocco cut its military spending by 26% in 2024, according to a recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Despite the drop, Morocco continues to rely heavily on the US for its defense needs, with American suppliers making up 64% of total arms imports. Across the region, Algeria also scaled back its purchases by a stark 73%, but its overall imports still outpaced Morocco's. Tags: military defenseMoroccoMorocco military
Ya Biladi
02-06-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
UK to sign defense agreements with Morocco as Rabat aspires to build local industry
The United Kingdom is planning to invest in Morocco's defense industry, a move announced as UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy voiced London's recent support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara. While in Rabat on June 2, Lammy and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita signed several agreements to deepen cooperation between the two kingdoms. A joint statement released the same day also announced the upcoming signing of a series of defense sector agreements. Among these is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK defense and security trade association ADS Group—representing the aerospace, defense, security, and space industries in the United Kingdom—and the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development. The agreement aims to strengthen links between the defense industries of both countries, the statement reads. Another MoU will be signed between British multinational BAE Systems, the National Defense Administration of Morocco, and the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development. This agreement focuses on investment and the development of capabilities within the defense sector, the same document stresses. These announcements mark a significant milestone for Morocco, which aspires to develop a local defense industry, offering promising opportunities for major investors in the field. The UK could be one of the first Western countries to formalize such cooperation with Morocco. For a local defense industry Morocco has already signed major players for a local defense industry. In September 2024, Tata Advanced Systems signed a strategic partnership with Morocco's National Defense Administration to establish a plant in Casablanca for the local production of WhAP 8×8 armored combat vehicles. In January 2025, Moroccan authorities also secured a deal with Turkish defense producer Baykar, which announced the creation of a subsidiary named Atlas Defense in Rabat. The facility will design, produce, and maintain unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including models like the Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı. Morocco has also partnered with Israeli firm BlueBird Aero Systems to establish a drone factory. Although construction began in April 2024, the project has faced delays due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Back in 2023, Israel's Elbit Systems announced plans to establish two military equipment factories in Morocco, with one potentially located in Casablanca. Most recently, Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer also pledged to invest in Morocco's aerospace sector, including plans to establish a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility. This initiative aims to enhance Morocco's aerospace infrastructure and support the Royal Air Maroc's fleet expansion. It is worth noting that Morocco laid the groundwork for its defense industry with Law 10.20, published in the Official Bulletin on August 4, 2020. This legal framework establishes the foundation for developing a domestic defense manufacturing sector, providing regulation and oversight for the production, trade, and management of defense and security equipment.
Ya Biladi
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Following in Morocco's footsteps, Algeria tries to win over the Indian military industry
The Chief of Staff of the Algerian Army and Minister Delegate in charge of Defense, General Said Chengriha, is currently visiting India. According to Algerian media, the purpose of the visit is to «strengthen cooperation» between the two nations. Back in October 2024, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, traveled to Algiers for discussions with General Chengriha. The following month, General Chengriha hosted his Indian counterpart, General Anil Chauhan, in Algeria. Algeria is keen to follow Morocco's lead in establishing an Indian military industry within its borders. In September, Morocco signed an agreement with the Indian conglomerate TATA to locally produce WhAP 8×8 land combat vehicles. This initiative was further bolstered in December by the visit of a delegation of Indian military industry companies to Rabat. In a recent interview with the French daily L'Opinion, the Algerian president described the relationship with Morocco, which has been severed since August 2021, as «a game of chess in which we are forced to respond to acts that we deem hostile».
