Morocco signed agreements on Wednesday to expand local manufacturing and research and development in the aerospace and defense sectors. The agreements cover the manufacture of aircraft-engine lubrication systems, the development of a Moroccan drone and counter-drone technologies, as well as greater participation by local suppliers in Royal Air Maroc’s supply chain. The agreements were signed during the Marrakech Air Show.
The agreements aim to strengthen cooperation between Moroccan institutions and international companies, support the kingdom’s industrial and technological capabilities, link research and development to the needs of the aerospace industry, and expand the use of locally manufactured products and services.
Localizing aircraft-engine systems
The Ministry of Industry and Trade and Royal Air Maroc signed an agreement to increase the integration of products and services bearing the “Made in Morocco” label into the national carrier’s supply chain, giving Moroccan suppliers a greater role in meeting its needs for locally produced goods and services.
The agreements included the establishment of an industrial subsidiary of Safran Aerosystems in Morocco to develop manufacturing capabilities for aircraft-engine lubrication systems and fluid management. The initiative involves the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, and the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Investments and Exports.
Safran employs more than 5,500 people at 10 sites across the kingdom. The group began operating in Morocco in 1999 through a joint venture with Royal Air Maroc specializing in aircraft-engine maintenance.
Developing a Moroccan drone and counter-drone technologies
Harmattan AI signed an agreement to develop next-generation technologies to counter drones, covering research and development, engineering, production, integration and testing. The agreement involves the ministries of industry and trade; economy and finance; administrative reform; interior; and investment, convergence and evaluation of public policies, as well as the National Defense Administration.
The National Defense Administration and the company also signed a separate agreement to develop a Moroccan drone. Harmattan announced a strategic partnership with the Moroccan Armed Forces last June, covering the creation of capabilities to manufacture autonomous defense systems, a research and development center for defense artificial intelligence, and partnerships with higher-education and research institutions in the kingdom.
Research and development partnerships
The partnerships included an agreement to advance research and development through the African Center of Manufacturing Excellence, ACME. Participants included the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the National Defense Administration, OCP Group, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, the ACME platform and the Technical Center for Mechanical Industries, CETIM, along with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Safran and Airbus.
Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour said at the opening of the show that Morocco had built up industrial and technological capabilities over the past two decades enabling it to produce complex systems in the aerospace and defense sectors. He said the kingdom was expanding its activities to include systems design alongside manufacturing.
Mezzour added that strong global demand for civil and defense products was accompanying a rapid transformation in industry, and that Morocco had the capacity to increase production and deliver on schedule in line with quality and competitiveness standards. He called on investors to establish partnerships in the kingdom.
200 exhibitors from 27 countries
The signing of the agreements coincided with the opening of the eighth Marrakech Air Show, which runs through October 10 at the Royal Armed Forces air base in Marrakech. Held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, the show is attended by about 200 exhibitors representing 27 countries.
Leading participating companies include Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Airbus, Boeing, Safran, Thales, Embraer, RTX Corporation and Tata Advanced Systems, alongside Moroccan companies operating in engineering, maintenance, embedded electronics, digitalization and research and development.
Morocco’s aerospace sector comprises more than 150 companies, with local integration accounting for 40%. Its activities include aircraft structures, engine components and wiring systems. The show’s program features air displays, a static exhibition of aircraft and platforms, as well as seminars and business meetings addressing industrial sovereignty, securing value chains, digitalization and skills development.
