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Rabat — Turkish manufacturer Baykar has officially announced the establishment of a drone production factory in Morocco.
Converging reports, including Turkish media, confirmed the news, noting that the project marks a “significant” milestone for Morocco’s military as well as ties between Morocco and Turkiye.
Moroccan also media picked up the news, with Le360 reporting that the aerospace company established Atlas Defense, a subsidiary controlled by Baykar.
Its primary activities will include manufacturing, design, and maintenance of drones. With a subsidiary headquarters in Rabat, the company also plans to design and assemble technological systems for the defense industry.
This will cover different fields, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and communications.
The production will include electronic, optical, and mechanical equipment used in military operations.
In January, reports said the Turkish defense company had confirmed the delivery of Bayraktar TB2 drones to Morocco.
Reports also suggested that the Turkish firm shipped drones in September of 2021.
This is part of a larger trend of Morocco upgrading its military with cutting-edge technology from different partners — mainly the US.
Morocco is one of the largest arms purchasers in Africa. Morocco’s military budget saw an increase to over MAD 133 billion (approximately $13 billion).
The budget reflects Morocco’s efforts to boost national security.
The Global Firepower’s latest report earlier this year ranks Morocco as the 59th most powerful military worldwide, out of 145 countries. Morocco also comes seventh on the African continent, following Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Angola.
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