Morocco’s military is to receive its first locally manufactured armoured vehicle turrets in March 2027, with producer Moroccan Military Industry (MMI) also working on a weapon system designed to shoot down drones at a fraction of the cost of conventional air defences.
The turrets will be fitted to eight-wheeled armored vehicles being assembled in Morocco by India’s Tata group, under an agreement with the Moroccan defense administration.
Kaduri Naor, chief executive of MMI, a subsidiary of Israel’s Elbit Systems, confirmed the delivery schedule to Reuters on the sidelines of the Marrakech Air Show.
The company operates a weapons systems factory at Midparc, near Casablanca, where it is preparing the turrets and associated ammunition for the Royal Armed Forces. A second plant is being set up at Sidi Yahya to manufacture medium- and large-calibre ammunition.
The March deliveries will put locally produced weapon systems on vehicles already being assembled in the country, bringing together two foreign-backed manufacturing operations serving the Moroccan military.
MMI, however, is looking beyond conventional armored warfare.
With inexpensive drones posing a growing problem for armies, the company is developing a counter-drone version of its turret, intended to bring down unmanned aircraft without relying on costly air defense systems.
“The threat is very cheap, the defense systems are more expensive,” Naor told Reuters, describing MMI’s proposed solution as cost-effective.
The system uses a small radar to detect an approaching drone, with an explosive round dispersing tungsten fragments to destroy the target. The ammunition will also be manufactured in Morocco.
MMI has further plans for a self-propelled mortar system that can be mounted on military vehicles, adding another weapon to its planned production line.
The manufacturing push comes as Morocco works with foreign defense companies to build up its own military industry. Rabat and Tel Aviv restored diplomatic relations in 2020 and signed a defense cooperation agreement the following year, opening the door to joint work on air defense, artillery, drones and military equipment production.
Naor said Moroccan personnel already account for 99% of MMI’s workforce, including its engineers.
The company is also looking for customers beyond Morocco, with plans to use its local manufacturing base to supply foreign armies.
“We will have a European NATO country to export to,” Naor told Reuters, without naming the prospective customer.
