Morocco seeks to develop a local military industry, in particular with the manufacture of intelligence and combat drones, said the Moroccan minister in charge of the National Defense administration, Abdellatif Loudyi, quoted this Saturday in a report of a parliamentary meeting.
The Moroccan government wants to develop “certain sectors of the military industry, particularly arms and ammunition, as well as the manufacture of drones capable of carrying out intelligence, surveillance and armed attack operations, in addition to the maintenance of military aircraft,” the Moroccan government quoted as saying. minister in the minutes of a parliamentary meeting on the draft budget for defense for 2023.
Abdellatif Loudyi, who did not give further details about the nature of these operations, said that a project to build a military aircraft maintenance factory was entrusted to a specialized international company in the Benslimane region (north of Casablanca).
The minister has also pointed out that the Government has already approved a law that paves the way for the granting of licenses for the development of military industries “to reinforce the independence” of the kingdom in this field.
kamikaze drones
Moroccan and Israeli media reported in November 2021 on a $22 million contract – not officially confirmed – between Rabat and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel’s first public aeronautical group, for the delivery of “kamikaze drones”.
Citing a Moroccan security source, the information site Yabiladi.com indicated that the military cooperation agreement concluded between Morocco and Israel also includes the “launch of two industrial units for the manufacture of unmanned aircraft.”
Israel and Morocco normalized their relations in December 2020 as part of a normalization process between the Jewish state and several Arab countries, supported by the former US administration of Donald Trump.
The normalization of diplomatic relations between these two countries – in exchange for US recognition of Moroccan “sovereignty” over the disputed territory of Western Sahara – has revived tensions with Algeria, a fervent supporter of the Palestinian cause.
Rabat already uses drones for intelligence and border surveillance purposes, according to Moroccan military experts. Last April, one of the leaders of the Saharawi separatists of the Polisario Front was assassinated after an attack with Moroccan drones, according to certain information that has not been officially confirmed.
Source: BFM TV
