Morocco Set to Host Military Drone Defense Trials in 2027
In an ambitious move to enhance its defense capabilities, Morocco is preparing to host U.S. military trials aimed at testing up to 15 systems designed to counter drone threats and protect troops in the year 2027. The coastal city of Tan-Tan has been designated as the evaluation site for these cutting-edge technologies, reflecting Morocco's commitment to developing its local industrial capacity in the drone and autonomous defense systems sectors.
According to the U.S. Army website, this initiative is a collaboration between the U.S. Army's Southern European Task Force and Africa, known as SETAF-AF, and the Advanced Tactical Capability Acquisition Directorate, referred to as G-TEAD. The primary objective is to expedite the transition from identifying military needs to testing solutions and providing them to soldiers in a timely manner.
The trials in Tan-Tan are scheduled for February and March 2027, where demonstrations and evaluations will be conducted under the direct supervision of military forces. Following these initial trials, the systems will undergo operational assessments in April and May, coinciding with the "African Lion 2027" military exercises.
The American source highlights that these trials aim to address the protective needs of command centers and smaller operational sites against drone threats. Up to 15 technical solutions will be evaluated as part of a program that seeks to deliver effective technologies to soldiers within 180 days.
The U.S. Army report indicates that the required solutions fall into five categories, including a comprehensive, transportable, and deployable defense package; systems for detecting drones; means to intercept and destroy them; non-kinetic disruption methods; and equipment for passive protection to minimize potential damages. The selection of African trial sites is justified by their diverse terrain, less congested airspace, and favorable conditions for frequency usage, allowing for technology testing in environments that are difficult to replicate in U.S. and European training fields.
Tan-Tan's selection for these trials coincides with Morocco's strategic move towards establishing a defense industrial base, which includes producing unmanned systems and developing local expertise through partnerships with foreign manufacturers. In this context, French company "Harmattan AI" announced a strategic partnership with the Royal Armed Forces, aligning with the Kingdom's goal of developing independent defense capabilities and enhancing its technological sovereignty.
As part of this partnership, the company aims to create manufacturing capabilities for autonomous defense systems within Morocco and establish a research and development center focused on employing artificial intelligence in the defense sector, while also building partnerships with Moroccan higher education and research institutions.
This collaboration took a significant step forward during the Marrakech Airshow, where a letter of intent was signed on October 7 regarding the long-range strike system "IRIFI," as part of a program involving acquisition, development, and production within Morocco. The project will focus on developing and manufacturing essential technological components in the Kingdom, leveraging Moroccan expertise to expand local participation in the engineering and production stages associated with the system.
"Harmattan AI" presents the "IRIFI" system as capable of executing strike missions with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, as claimed by the manufacturer. However, specific details regarding order quantities, financial values, or delivery timelines have not been disclosed in the letter of intent.
Alongside these partnerships, several Moroccan projects have emerged, including the "Atlas Istar" drone developed by "Aerodrive Engineering Services" for reconnaissance and information-gathering missions, with plans to commence production of 500 single-use attack drones in Benslimane by 2027. Furthermore, this trajectory has been bolstered by the opening of a facility by Israeli company "BlueBird Aero Systems" in Morocco for the production of loitering munitions "SpyX," in addition to various other projects aimed at establishing a local drone industry in Morocco.
As reported by assahifa.com.
