Morocco and the United States have recently signed a memorandum to establish the **African Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center**, a joint military training facility set to be located in Tan-Tan, southern Morocco. This center is anticipated to commence operations by the year 2030, marking a significant step in military collaboration between the two nations.
As detailed in a statement from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), the agreement was finalized on Monday at the U.S. combat command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. The forthcoming center will feature a multidomain training area designed to prepare military forces for operations across various environments. It will include a **drone academy** aimed at training Moroccan and African personnel in **counter-terrorism**, as well as an innovation and experimentation center that will foster collaboration with academic institutions.
This initiative is expected to provide both countries' industries with **"low-cost opportunities"** for technological testing and experimentation, serving as a **"testbed"** for future wireless and sensor technologies to enhance security and drive joint industrial growth.
General Inspector of the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco, **Mohamed Berrid**, expressed in a statement that Morocco's readiness, demonstrated through its existing facilities and highly qualified personnel, ensures a swift transition from concept to operational reality. Furthermore, General **Dagvin Anderson**, commander of AFRICOM, emphasized that this initiative would enhance the readiness levels and strengthen the capabilities of both nations.
Morocco, recognized as the first country to acknowledge the independence of the United States back in 1777, has maintained a **close relationship** with the U.S. across various sectors. This year, both nations celebrate the **250th anniversary of their bilateral relations and friendship**, maintaining strong military ties. In 2020, they signed a **Ten-Year Military Cooperation Agreement** aimed at modernizing defense operations, facilitating intelligence exchanges, and coordinating responses to regional and transnational threats.
Details of the AMTEC Center
According to official information from AFRICOM, the new AMTEC center will consist of three main components: a Multidomain Training Area, a Drone Academy, and an Innovation and Experimentation Center. The **shooting complex** within the Multidomain Training Area will provide a dedicated physical space to ensure that forces and systems are prepared to operate effectively across the electromagnetic spectrum, as well as in conflict environments.
The **Drone Academy** will train operators, planners, and instructors from Morocco and partner African nations to enhance their counter-terrorism capabilities against threats in West Africa. This training will equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to integrate **unmanned aerial systems** into broader operational maneuvers.
Special attention will be given to resolving **airspace conflicts**, multidomain integration, **strike capabilities**, intelligence, and the synchronization of surveillance and reconnaissance efforts. The Innovation and Experimentation Center will rapidly develop, test, and evaluate emerging capabilities, focusing on scalable, low-cost solutions for **counter-terrorism and regional security operations**. Collaboration with the academic sector will be sought, incorporating experts and academic institutions into multidisciplinary design teams.
AFRICOM also noted that the upcoming **African Lion** exercise in 2027, the largest military drill on the African continent held annually in various Moroccan locations, will serve as a **trial run** before the center becomes operational. African Lion acts as a **testing ground** for integrating cutting-edge technologies directly into operational environments, with industry partners working alongside military members to test systems that leverage **artificial intelligence**, autonomous platforms, and advanced **communication tools**, thereby accelerating the transition from concept to operational capability.
As reported by elespanol.com.
