Morocco launches its first national project for manufacturing armored vehicles: a strategic step towards defense sovereignty
Najiba Jalal/
Clickable announcement
In a pivotal moment for the modernization of defense capabilities, Morocco has launched its first project of its kind for local manufacturing of armored vehicles, embodying the Kingdom’s vision to establish a self-sufficient and integrated military industrial base. This project lays the foundation for a promising national defense sector, enhancing industrial sovereignty and responding to geopolitical and security changes in the region.
A strategic partnership with India in defense industries
This vital project in the Brachid region is based on a Moroccan-Indian partnership between the National Defense Administration and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), the defense arm of the Indian Tata Group. This collaboration exemplifies a model for smart openness to international partners capable of transferring expertise and technology in strategically significant areas, particularly military industries.
A production unit for WhAP 8×8 wheeled combat vehicles
The upcoming factory will be dedicated to producing the WhAP 8×8 armored combat vehicle, an amphibious multipurpose troop carrier designed to operate in the most challenging environments, featuring high tactical flexibility and the ability to protect crews and transport soldiers in complex combat conditions. The industrial unit is expected to produce over 400 vehicles, including 150 for the Royal Armed Forces in various operational versions and specifications.
Local manufacturing with gradual integration
The project will be completed within 36 months, initially relying on a local integration rate of around 35%, which will gradually increase to 50%. This reflects a strong national drive towards localizing defense manufacturing and developing specialized Moroccan competencies. This approach is expected to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and establish a new concept of national industrial security.
Promising economic and operational returns
Economically, the project will create at least 90 direct jobs and 250 indirect jobs, in addition to stimulating a local industrial fabric linked to defense supply chains. The factory’s production capacity is set at 100 vehicles per year, within a balanced vision that respects environmental and developmental standards, with an environmental impact study scheduled between July 28 and August 16, 2025, in compliance with Law 12-03 regarding environmental impact assessments.
Towards an independent national defense industry
This step is not isolated from the overall strategic path led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Leader and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, who prioritizes building a Moroccan military industrial base grounded in innovation, smart partnerships, and self-reliance. The project is part of a dynamic development of the armed forces, which now depend on advanced technologies including drones, attack helicopters, air defense systems, and long-range missiles, in close cooperation with partners such as Israel, the United States, and Turkey.
With this project, Morocco embarks on a new era in the journey towards defense sovereignty, transitioning from being merely an importer of weapons to being on the brink of becoming a producer and developer of integrated combat systems, fully aligned with regional challenges and Moroccan national security aspirations.
