Gulf nations seek Moroccan drone technology as well as the aircraft
The Moroccan maker of the Matador drone says it has received requests from two Gulf countries for demonstrations. Their interest also appears to extend to technology and production transfers, even though the aircraft is still at the prototype stage.
Two Gulf countries want to see the Matador in action, according to Fahd Laamoumi, co-founder of Ballistic Defense System (BDS), in an interview with Breaking Defense. The executive did not disclose their identities. No contract has been signed yet.
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The discussions would go beyond buying aircraft: they would also involve transferring technology, production and the team to the countries concerned. This possibility raises a practical question for BDS: where would it develop and manufacture its drone if these efforts succeed?
Bladi had covered the Moroccan autonomous drone project on September 29, following an announcement by the manufacturer. BDS highlighted the design and tests carried out in Morocco by Moroccan engineers, as well as its intention to keep its expertise, data and intellectual property rights there.
A prototype—and ambitions to keep in perspective
The Breaking Defense article, published on October 1 and updated on the 6th, details the capabilities claimed for the aircraft. The four-meter wingspan prototype has a range of 250 kilometers. A range of 2,000 kilometers remains a target for a larger aircraft. Laamoumi also claims a cumulative 853 kilometers of flight without satellite navigation.
The initial presentation described a system that analyzes the terrain and compares it with an onboard map to continue navigating when satellite signals disappear. The manufacturer said it had focused its resources on software and algorithms, using commercially available sensors.
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BDS says it is also in talks with the Moroccan army about demonstrations ahead of possible acquisitions. The Matador is a one-way attack drone; its manufacturer plans to present the prototype at the Marrakech Air Show.
To develop the next airframe, capable of carrying its payload to the target, the company says it needs a runway and airspace reserved for testing.
