Rabat – Aerodrive Engineering Services, a Moroccan company specializing in drone technology, has announced the successful first flight of Atlas Istar, the country’s first fully Moroccan-made military drone.
The company made the announcement on Linkedin, stressing that “this milestone marks a significant achievement in our journey to develop a state-of-the-art unmanned aerial system designed for military surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations.”
The statement noted that the successful launch took “months of rigorous testing,” with the team’s “dedication and expertise” resulting in a system capable of providing “real-time intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance in critical missions.”
The successful test aligns with Morocco’s efforts to build a self-sufficient military industrial base and reduce its reliance on foreign arms imports. This in turn is in line with a broader strategy of King Mohammed VI to promote the creation of a local military industry.
One of the major initiatives discussed at a Ministerial Council chaired by King Mohammed VI in June is the creation of two “defense industrial acceleration zones.” These zones are intended to serve as hubs for manufacturing defense and security equipment, weapons, and munitions.
The 2024 finance bill allocates $12 billion to defense spendings, $484.7 million more than in 2023. This highlights a focus on upgrading and maintaining equipment for the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) while also promoting the development of Morocco’s domestic defense industry.
Morocco is currently ranked 61st in the world in military strength, but it is within the top 20 countries for artillery strength, according to a report by Insider Monkey.
Morocco has made significant acquisitions in recent years to modernize its military. Notable purchases include advanced drones, HIMARS missile systems, speedboats from the US, and F-16 Viper fighter jets.
