Israel’s defense ministry has made its first official appearance at a military exhibition in Morocco, bringing eight arms manufacturers to the 2026 Marrakech Air Show under a national pavilion and an industry delegation.
The debut marks the first such participation since the December 2020 tripartite agreement, with the ministry’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate, known as SIBAT, leading the delegation and organizing Israel’s presence at the show.
On display are loitering munitions, AI-powered combat drones, satellite communications equipment and navigation systems designed to work even when GPS signals are jammed.
Five companies are exhibiting at the Israeli pavilion, while the country’s three major defense manufacturers—Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems—are also represented.
For Brig. Gen. (Res.) Yair Kulas, head of SIBAT, the Marrakech appearance offers Israeli arms makers an opportunity to expand their reach.
“The companies that exhibited at the show brought combat-proven technologies alongside innovation in autonomy, artificial intelligence and communications,” he said.
The equipment on show ranges from drones designed to strike targets to systems intended to keep them flying and communicating in contested conditions.
UVision is displaying its Hero loitering munitions, often called kamikaze drones, which can circle over an area before attacking a target. XTEND specializes in AI-powered tactical drones, including first-person-view (FPV) aircraft and loitering munitions.
Asio Technologies is presenting navigation and command systems capable of operating without reliable GPS signals, while Orbit Communication Systems supplies satellite communications terminals for aircraft, ships and ground vehicles.
Shilat Optronics, the fifth company at the pavilion, develops electro-optical equipment, including laser guidance systems for drones and munitions.
The larger Israeli arms manufacturers bring a wider range of military hardware to the exhibition. Elbit Systems produces land-based weapons, drones and electro-optical equipment. State-owned IAI manufactures aircraft, satellites, unmanned systems and radars, while Rafael is known for its Iron Dome air defense system and Spike missiles.
Together, the three companies cover military technology across air, land, sea and space, as well as intelligence, cyber and digital systems.
The official presence in Marrakech comes nearly six years after Morocco and Israel resumed diplomatic relations under the December 2020 tripartite agreement.
Israel’s defense ministry says its participation is intended to expand arms exports and cooperation with partner countries while supporting the Israeli military, foreign policy objectives and the country’s defense industry.
Kulas described SIBAT as a gateway to Israel’s defense ecosystem and said the Marrakech show provided a platform for expanding international defense cooperation and building long-term partnerships.
According to the ministry, the Israeli delegation held meetings with government officials and delegations from several countries during the exhibition.
