On August 6, 2026, a significant milestone in military collaboration between Morocco and the United States was achieved as American and Moroccan armed forces conducted their first live-fire demonstration at the Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center (AMTEC) in Tan-Tan. This demonstration, which took place from August 3 to 7, involved a defense industry partner and is a crucial step towards enhancing military cooperation between the two nations.
This unprecedented live-fire event is part of the U.S. initiative to expand testing fields and aims to validate long-range precision strike capabilities under real-world conditions. It marks a concrete advancement toward establishing AMTEC as a regional hub for military innovation, strategic cooperation, and industrial development. Colonel Zouhair El Hamdani, an officer of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) responsible for coordination, stated, "The objective is to establish AMTEC as a center of excellence for experimentation, validation, and development of advanced technologies." He emphasized that this inaugural live-fire demonstration is a decisive step toward realizing this vision.
During the exercise, American and Moroccan teams set up an expeditionary test site and conducted a live-fire operation in collaboration with engineers and technicians from a defense industry partner. This operation allowed for the testing of communication systems, evaluation of the maneuverability of various technical components, and collection of essential data related to weather conditions and targeting. According to U.S. military officials, these tests expedite the development of new operational capabilities. General Dagvin Anderson, commander of AFRICOM, highlighted that the partnership with Morocco provides a crucial framework for enhancing the readiness of U.S. forces and their African partners, stating, "AMTEC illustrates how strong alliances can address common security challenges."
While the official announcement did not disclose the identity of the industrial partner or the equipment tested, the Associated Press reported that the involved entity is the American startup Covenant Industries. The system implemented is believed to be the "Anthem" cruise missile, designed for long-range, cost-effective precision strike capabilities.
Beyond the technical aspects, this initiative highlights a new model of collaboration between armed forces and the defense industry, integrating innovative actors into the process. Project leaders aim to shorten the timelines between the testing phase and operational deployment. Lieutenant Colonel Corbett Baxter, an exercise planner within U.S. forces in Africa, explained, "We are looking to transform innovation into a tangible advantage on the ground." The development of AMTEC is expected to ultimately expand multinational training capabilities by integrating emerging technologies such as autonomous systems, advanced wireless communications, and next-generation sensors.
This demonstration also reinforces Morocco's position as a key player in regional security and a platform for military cooperation in Africa. As the center matures, it is set to become a preferred venue for testing and validating capabilities in challenging environments that are difficult to replicate elsewhere, further solidifying interoperability among partners.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
