Rabat – Lockheed Martin, a global defense technology company, will take part in the Marrakech Air Show 2026 as a Platinum Sponsor.
The Marrakech Air Show 2026 will take place from October 7-10, during which Lockheed Martin will showcase its latest defense technologies to further strengthen defense cooperation with Morocco.
The event will also serve as a platform for Lockheed Martin to explore opportunities with Moroccan companies to participate in future defense programs.
According to a statement from the company, Lockheed Martin will organize an Industry Day on October 6, convening representatives from the sector. The event will also mark the participation of Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.
“We have worked alongside Morocco for more than 50 years to support its defense needs,” Steve Sheehy, Vice President of International Business Development for Aeronautics at Lockheed Martin, said.
Sheehy also stressed the importance of the partnership, expressing commitment to seeing Moroccan companies playing a “greater role in our supply chain.”
Commenting on Industry Day, Sheehy sees the initiative as a practical step toward identifying suppliers with the expertise and capabilities needed to contribute to current and future programs.
The event also aims to ensure that the company’s sustainability partnerships are contributing to developing the skills and capabilities required to maintain aircraft locally.
During the airshow, Lockheed Martin’s booth will feature a demonstration model of an F-35 aircraft cockpit. Guests will be able to explore fifth-generation air capabilities through scheduled demonstrations. It will also allow visitors to view scale models of the F-35A, F-16, and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
The company’s booth also offers a display of a US Air Force C-130J aircraft, as well as an F-16 aircraft belonging to Morocco’s air force on the show grounds.
The presence of the C-130J will provide a platform to discuss the future of Morocco’s tactical airlift fleet. Building on the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s longstanding experience operating Hercules aircraft, the Super Hercules offers an advanced solution to modernize airlift capabilities and support military transport, humanitarian relief, and disaster response requirements, according to the press release.
Exhibitions will also feature full-scale displays of the Sniper targeting pod and will showcase the Javelin missile and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), among others.
Morocco, Lockheed Martin deepen defense partnership
In the statement, Lockheed Martin also cited the longstanding partnership with Morocco’s air force, which dates back to 1974, with the delivery of the first C-130H Hercules aircraft.
The company lauded the continued partnership, which has also been strengthened by the delivery of the first F-16 Block 52 aircraft in 2011, in addition to long-term aircraft support and operations.
As part of the partnership, Lockheed Martin signed an agreement in 2022 to support Maintenance Aero Maroc, bringing together Lockheed Martin, Sabena Engineering, a subsidiary of Belgium’s Orizio Group, and MEDZ, a subsidiary of Morocco’s Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG), to develop national expertise and strengthen aircraft maintenance infrastructure in Morocco.
Maintenance Aero Maroc, as well as its partners, launched a new aircraft hangar in Benslimane, laying the foundation stone for the hub, which covers more than 8,000 square meters.
The project, initially designed to carry out heavy maintenance and upgrades of C-130 Hercules aircraft, has plans to expand to other platforms, including F-16 aircraft, and contribute to developing local technical experience and support Morocco’s efforts to establish itself as a regional hub for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul.
Morocco continues to strengthen its position as a defense manufacturing hub, already attracting global players like India’s Tata Advanced Systems and Turkish drone maker, among others.
Morocco also seeks to strengthen its aerospace sector with plans to produce its first aircraft engine by 2027 or 2028.
The goal is to prepare Moroccan youth through skills, training, and engineering education.
The aerospace sector generated export revenues that amounted to over $2.54 billion in 2024. The industry attracts many companies, including global leaders that operate in the North African country.
Over 150 companies are operating in Morocco, with the country offering 0% corporate tax for the first five years and around 8% for the following 20 years. Morocco also offers exemption from VAT, duty-free equipment imports, and subsidized land and utilities.
