On October 7, 2026, Morocco made a significant stride in its defense capabilities by signing an agreement with the French company Harmattan AI, aimed at developing a sovereign offensive drone. This agreement marks a pivotal move towards localizing advanced defense industries and enhancing the capabilities of the Royal Armed Forces in the realm of autonomous aerial systems. The signing took place during the opening of the eighth edition of the Marrakech Air Show 2026, with the Minister Delegate for National Defense Administration, Abdellatif Loudyi, and Harmattan AI's co-founder and CEO, Moha Maghari, representing their respective sides.
The project is centered around the development of an offensive drone system named "IRIFI," designed for long-range operations capable of striking targets up to 2000 kilometers away. It will leverage advanced artificial intelligence technologies and autonomous navigation systems. According to details shared by the company, the new drone will be able to execute missions without the need for continuous communication with its operator, relying instead on navigation systems that do not require satellite signals and employing visual guidance techniques during the final stages of its missions.
These capabilities, as highlighted by the company, will enable the drone to operate effectively in environments where navigation and communication systems might be subject to electronic jamming, all while maintaining a high target identification capacity. Importantly, human decision-making remains integral to the target selection and mission approval processes before the drone is launched, while the autonomous systems handle execution in accordance with pre-established criteria.
Harmattan AI is a French startup specializing in defense technologies and military autonomous systems powered by artificial intelligence. Founded in April 2024 by Moha Maghari, a French engineer of Moroccan descent, along with Martin de Gourgues and Marc Grélier, the company has quickly attracted significant financial investments and entered the European defense industry by developing drones tailored for reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack, as well as systems for intercepting drones and electronic warfare.
Under the leadership of Moha Maghari, who is an alumnus of the prestigious École Polytechnique and has an academic background at renowned institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the company experienced a significant financial boost in January 2026 when Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the French Rafale fighter jets, provided funding of $200 million, elevating the company's valuation to approximately $1.4 billion. This has positioned Harmattan AI as one of the leading French startups in the defense technology sector, with a focus on developing autonomous combat systems driven by artificial intelligence.
The agreement signed in Marrakech is not the first collaboration between Morocco and Harmattan AI; both parties had previously announced a strategic partnership in June 2026 with the Royal Armed Forces aimed at developing a defense industrial and technological base within the kingdom. This partnership is built upon three main pillars: establishing industrial capabilities for producing autonomous defense systems in Morocco, creating a research and development center focused on artificial intelligence applications in the military sector, and forming partnerships with Moroccan higher education and scientific research institutions.
Alongside the drone agreement, Morocco and Harmattan AI also signed an investment agreement to establish a comprehensive industrial project focused on counter-drone systems. This project will encompass research and development, engineering, prototype design, manufacturing, assembly, and technical testing, and is expected to create around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The company emphasizes that its strategy in Morocco extends beyond merely assembling imported equipment; it includes the local development and manufacturing of essential technological components, leveraging the expertise of Moroccan engineers and skilled professionals. The "IRIFI" project represents a significant evolution in defense cooperation, shifting from a focus on air defense systems and drone interception to the development of long-range offensive systems.
As reported by alyaoum24.com.
