Tata Advanced Systems Showcases Innovative Defense Solutions
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a subsidiary of the Indian conglomerate Tata focusing on defense and aerospace, is set to make a significant impression at the Marrakech Air Show, running from October 7 to October 10 at the Royal Air Forces base in Marrakech. During this event, TASL will showcase its latest wheeled armored vehicle, the WhAP 8x8, which has been manufactured since September 2025 at its Berrechid facility. Alongside the WhAP, the company will also present other advanced military technologies including the versatile LAMV 4x4 vehicle, the ATAGS towed artillery gun of 155 mm caliber, and various drones.
Located at booth A1 in zone A, TASL aims to leverage its Moroccan presence to market the WhAP to foreign armies, with the Moroccan government indicating that the Berrechid facility will manufacture armored vehicles for both the Royal Armed Forces and international clients. The company’s CEO, Sukaran Singh, has framed the Berrechid plant, which represents the first overseas establishment of a private Indian defense manufacturer, as a foundational step in the group’s ambition to provide “defense systems designed in India” to friendly nations.
Production Milestones and Strategic Partnerships
The Berrechid facility was inaugurated on September 23, 2025, by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Moroccan Minister Delegate for National Defense Administration, Abdellatif Loudiyi. Spanning 20,000 square meters, this site is hailed by New Delhi as “the largest defense production unit in the Kingdom of Morocco and the first of its kind established in Africa by a private Indian company.” TASL reported that production commenced three months ahead of schedule, with plans for one-third of the components to be manufactured or assembled in Morocco at launch, increasing to 50% over time. The Indian Minister emphasized that the factory symbolizes the growing strategic convergence between India and Morocco.
On December 24, 2025, TASL announced the delivery of the first fleet of WhAP 8x8 vehicles to the Moroccan Royal Army, just three months post-inauguration. The Royal Armed Forces’ program includes the delivery of 150 vehicles over three years, with a total production goal of approximately 400 units during the same timeframe. The Moroccan subsidiary of Indian equipment manufacturer Metlonics, a contractor for the site, reported the completion of twenty hulls following the delivery of the initial five vehicles.
Engineered by TASL in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of Defense’s public research organization (DRDO), the WhAP is an amphibious infantry combat vehicle measuring 7.80 meters in length, 2.96 meters in width, and 2.28 meters in height, weighing between 25 and 26 tons. It features a monocoque chassis, modular ballistic and mine protection, independent suspension, and a centralized tire inflation system. New Delhi describes it as a “modern and modular combat platform, equipped with mobility, protection, and adaptability for advanced missions,” with the version selected by the Royal Armed Forces outfitted with the UT30MK2 remotely operated turret from Israeli firm Elbit Systems.
In addition to the WhAP, TASL has secured a contract with Bharat Forge for 123 of the ATAGS 155 mm artillery systems, further solidifying its defense capabilities. The Indian Ministry of Defense signed contracts worth 69 billion rupees (approximately 7.8 billion dirhams) on March 26, 2025, for the supply of 307 ATAGS and high-mobility 6x6 tractors, with the ATAGS designed to enhance the Indian Army’s long-range precision strike capabilities.
The LAMV 4x4, a lightweight protected mobility vehicle, will complement TASL's terrestrial offerings in Marrakech, which also include high-mobility vehicles, unmanned ground systems, and aerial drones. The show is expected to feature nearly 200 exhibitors from 27 countries, highlighting the defense and aerospace sectors' efforts to expand their presence in Africa.
TASL has stated that its operations in Morocco will serve as a defense equipment supply hub for the region, with imminent operational commencement. The Berrechid complex is seen as an extension of India's defense industrial base, poised to support the “Make for the World” initiative, which is a key aspect of India’s self-reliance strategy in defense manufacturing.
As reported by barlamane.com.
