“On drones, Morocco beats us”: the admission of a former Spanish lieutenant-colonel

“In a war with Morocco, they beat us on drones; we beat them with our naval and air forces.” Francisco Bendala thus sums up the balance of power he currently envisages between the two countries.

This former lieutenant-colonel in the Spanish infantry is familiar with the world of intelligence. After serving with the Royal Guard and helicopter units, he worked for twelve years at the CESID, predecessor of the current CNI, notably on issues related to Arab-Islamist terrorism.

In an intervention reported by Castillón Confidencial, Bendala believes that Spain retains a clear conventional superiority over Morocco thanks to its air force and navy.

But according to him, this advantage conceals a weakness that has become concerning: Spain is reportedly suffering from an “immense drone deficit.”

On this front, his assessment is much more favorable to the Royal Armed Forces. “Morocco is ahead of us,” the former military officer believes, highlighting both Rabat’s purchases and the development of local production.

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This assessment echoes the concerns already expressed in Spain over Morocco’s acceleration in drone warfare. In recent years, the FAR have multiplied their acquisitions of aircraft in different categories and now possess reconnaissance, attack and long-endurance drones originating notably from Turkey and Israel.

Morocco is also beginning to design its own drones

The difference is no longer limited to purchases abroad. Morocco is now seeking to manufacture and develop part of these systems directly on its territory.

In Benslimane, the Israeli group BlueBird Aero Systems has launched an industrial project connected to SpyX drones. The manufacture of Israeli-designed drones in Morocco should enable the Royal Armed Forces to gradually acquire industrial skills that go beyond the simple role of customer.

Another project is being developed in Rabat with Harmattan AI. The company is currently working on a new fixed-wing military drone designed directly in Morocco, whose testing campaigns are to be conducted on several sites across the kingdom.

This development precisely supports Bendala’s analysis. For the former officer, recent conflicts have shown that superiority no longer depends solely on the number of fighter aircraft, frigates or tanks available.

Drones make it possible to maintain permanent surveillance, strike from a distance and deploy relatively inexpensive equipment without directly exposing a crew. Their role in Ukraine and in several recent conflicts has profoundly changed the way military staffs view military operations.

On Bladi.net : Designed in Rabat, tested in the south: a new military drone takes shape in Morocco

Bendala nevertheless does not believe that this technological lead gives Morocco an overall military superiority over Spain.

On the contrary, he believes that Madrid remains clearly ahead in two major components: the navy and the air force. Spain notably has a much larger combat fleet and an air force comprising Eurofighter and F/A-18 aircraft.

The former lieutenant-colonel, however, points to another potential Moroccan advantage in the event of a crisis around Sebta or Melilla: ground logistics. Rabat could rapidly move substantial forces toward the north of the country, whereas Spain would have to reinforce the two cities mainly by sea or air.

This comparison comes as Spanish analyses of Morocco’s military development are multiplying. A few days earlier, another Spanish lieutenant-colonel estimated that Rabat was already advancing against Madrid without needing a direct military confrontation.

For Bendala, the assessment is different and much more technical: Spain would retain its conventional power, but it would have allowed a gap to grow in one of the areas most rapidly transforming battlefields.

And on this specific point, his verdict is unambiguous: in the race for drones, Morocco would now have gained the advantage.