Marrakech – Israel’s first national pavilion at the Marrakech Airshow has given its expanding defense relationship with Morocco a prominent public platform. Alongside the weapons and autonomous systems on display, Israeli executives told Morocco World News (MWN) they are exploring partnerships that could include manufacturing and joint development in the North African country.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced the pavilion on Thursday, describing it as its first official participation in the Moroccan defense exhibition since the restoration of diplomatic relations under the Abraham Accords. Its International Defense Cooperation Directorate, known as SIBAT, headed the delegation.
The biennial exhibition runs from October 7 to 10 at the Royal Moroccan Air Force base in Marrakech, bringing together civil aviation, military aerospace, and space industries.
Eight Israeli defense companies participated. The national pavilion hosted ASIO Technologies, Orbit Communication Systems, SHILAT Optronics, UVision Air, and XTEND Systems. Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems exhibited separately, presenting capabilities across air, land, sea, space, intelligence, cyber, and digital domains.
The technologies included loitering munitions, artificial intelligence-powered robotics, autonomous navigation for unmanned aircraft, laser guidance for first-person-view (FPV) drones, and satellite communications. The ministry described the systems as “combat-proven,” making operational experience a central part of its export pitch.
SIBAT head Brigadier General (Res.) Yair Kulas called the debut “an important milestone for the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israeli defense industry.”
“The companies that exhibited at the show brought combat-proven technologies alongside innovation in autonomy, artificial intelligence, and communications,” he stated.
“SIBAT serves as a gateway to Israel’s defense ecosystem, and this exhibition served as a platform for expanding international defense cooperation and building long-term partnerships as part of advancing the Ministry of Defense’s strategy.”
The ministry explicitly linked that strategy to increasing exports, strengthening the Israeli military’s capabilities, supporting foreign policy, and bolstering the defense industry and economy. It also reported meetings with foreign delegations and government officials during the exhibition.
An Israeli Defense Ministry official, speaking anonymously to MWN, described the Moroccan debut as “another milestone in our relations with the Kingdom of Morocco.”
“We are very proud to be here,” the official remarked, expressing gratitude for the hospitality of Morocco’s administration, Royal Armed Forces (FAR), and National Defense Administration. He credited the welcome to institutions “led by the inspiring leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.”
Recalling his presence at the signing of the bilateral defense memorandum, he described cooperation as having reached “a different place, something that we could not even imagine.”
“For us, Morocco is really more than a partnership,” he told MWN. “It’s not just about relations with two countries.” He emphasized the relationship’s people-to-people dimension and its personal significance: his mother is from Settat and his father from Guelmim. Israeli Military Attaché Colonel Sharon Itach was also present and briefly addressed MWN in Moroccan Darija.
From defense sales to local production
For the companies represented, those political and cultural connections accompanied concrete commercial ambitions. Orbit Communication Systems’ Samuel Snir, executive vice president for global sales and business development, outlined an interest in finding a Moroccan partner for production and potential joint design work.
“Here in Morocco, right now what we are trying to do is to find a local solution and to find a partner here in Morocco,” he explained. The objective would be “to have a product together” and “to have manufacturing. And we’ll be more than happy to do it here with a local partner.”
Snir described three business lines at Orbit, which he said was established 76 years ago: audio management systems, mobile satellite communications, and ground systems. Its applications span aircraft, maritime and land platforms, submarines, and unmanned surface vessels.
The ground portfolio includes telemetry, Earth observation, and point-to-point communications across different satellite types, frequency bands, and networks. Snir described the equipment as primarily meeting military standards and compatible with different modems and platforms.
Shlomi Maman, Orbit’s senior director of sales and business development, also pointed to cooperation between Israeli and Moroccan companies.
“I think we have a solution that can help Morocco,” he told MWN. “All our products are combat-proven,” he continued, citing their use by navies and other customers internationally. “We have a great partnership here in Morocco,” Maman added, commending the warmth and hospitality of the people he had met.
At XTEND, Shahar Shoshana, vice president for global partnerships and integrated defense systems, presented the exhibition as an opportunity to develop strategic cooperation in Morocco around autonomous systems.
“We are very, very happy to take part in this exhibition,” he told MWN. He described the company’s ambition as “building a good relation” through its engagement in Morocco.
According to Shoshana, XTEND’s technology is present in 34 countries and five “friction areas.” His invitation was direct: “Let’s open the market.”
SHILAT Optronics’ Shlomo Lagasa likewise identified Morocco as a market for future cooperation. The company develops electro-optical technologies and laser-based guidance for FPV drones, emphasizing precision, compact design, cost-effective development, and scalable production.
In a statement provided to MWN, it described its systems as combat-proven and used by the Israeli military, government agencies, and defense and homeland security companies.
“Our presence at the Marrakech Airshow reflects our commitment to expanding our international partnerships and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in the region,” the statement read.
“We see Morocco as an important and growing market for advanced defense technologies and look forward to exploring potential opportunities for future collaboration with the Moroccan Armed Forces and local defense and security partners.”
These approaches coincide with Morocco’s own push to develop industrial capabilities at home. At the Airshow’s opening on Wednesday, Abdeltif Loudyi, minister delegate in charge of the National Defense Administration, described the aerospace sector’s progression from assembly toward manufacturing and advanced engineering.
IAI’s exhibition materials similarly identify local cooperation, industrial collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer as priorities. Its display includes the Heron MK II unmanned aircraft, LORA precision strike system, air defense capabilities, communications satellites, and aircraft conversion and maintenance services.
For Morocco, proposals involving production and design could support that industrial ambition. Orbit’s remarks nevertheless describe a search for a partner and possible cooperation; they do not establish that a manufacturing agreement has been signed.
A relationship becoming more institutionalized
The pavilion also rests on an increasingly structured bilateral framework. Morocco and Israel restored diplomatic relations in December 2020. A defense memorandum signed in Rabat on November 24, 2021, provided a formal foundation for military cooperation.
In January, the two countries signed a joint military work plan for 2026 during the third meeting of their Joint Military Committee in Tel Aviv. According to the Israeli military’s announcement, reported on January 5, the meetings involved its Planning Directorate and Tevel Division, visits to military units and defense industries, and discussions on force development and shared cooperation objectives.
On September 16, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar met in New York with US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz. They agreed to elevate their diplomatic missions to embassies, exchange ambassadors, restore and expand direct flights, and advance high-level reciprocal visits.
They also committed to concluding investment protection and double taxation agreements by the end of 2026. The joint statement reaffirmed US and Israeli recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.
“The friendship between the Moroccan and Jewish peoples has deep roots and a rich history,” Sa’ar declared at the meeting.
The Marrakech debut contrasts with restrictions on Israeli participation at European defense exhibitions. In June, Israel’s Defense Ministry reported that France had barred an official delegation and national pavilion at Eurosatory, while limiting companies to air defense displays. Israeli firms were also excluded from the Netherlands’ NEDS exhibition in 2025.
The wider regional context also includes Gaza. Morocco was among five countries that signed a February declaration expressing an intention to contribute troops to the US-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) under US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. Rabat has separately reaffirmed its support for a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living peacefully alongside Israel.
At Marrakech, the next industrial step remains to be negotiated. Its value for Morocco will depend on the scope of local production, the expertise transferred, and the responsibilities entrusted to Moroccan engineers and suppliers. The pavilion has provided a public platform for those discussions; their outcome will determine how far the partnership contributes to Morocco’s industrial ambitions.
