Rabat – Two months after receiving the first Turkish-made Bayraktar TB-2 armed drones, Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) is in the process of ordering a new batch of 6 drones of the same type from the Turkish Baykar Group.
The Moroccan armed forces continue to strengthen its military capabilities in the midst of soaring tensions in Western Sahara and with Algeria.
According to the news outlet Africa Intelligence, the country has ordered at least six new drones, which would be added to the first batch already ordered, and partially delivered.
The first batch covers 13 Bayraktar TB-2 drones with a budget of MAD 626 million ($70 million) as well as four ground-based pilot stations.
“With this second order, Rabat intends to consolidate its position as the first African customer of the TB-2,” Africa Intelligence reports.
The Turkish armed drones are known for their medium-altitude and long-endurance (MALE), capable of operating for an extended period of time.
The rest of the drones are expected to arrive in Morocco soon, in accordance with the contract signed between the Kingdom and the Turkish manufacturer Baykar last April.
The same source recalled that “in September, Moroccan pilots went to Turkey to train in the piloting of Turkish armed drones, alongside their Qatari counterparts.”
In July, several members of the Royal Armed Forces were reported to have received aircraft training in Turkey.
Morocco has signed agreements with the US, Israel, and Turkey to advance its role as a regional military power.
The FAR had already acquired an anti-drone device designed by Skylock Systems from Avnon Group, the Skylock Dome, as well as many tactical drones from the Israeli company Elbit Systems.
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