Morocco Defense Industry: 500 Kamikaze Drones Production Accelerates

The Moroccan army is strengthening its technological arsenal while promoting skills transfer. General Mohammed Berrid recently validated the acquisition of 500 attack drones from the national start-up Aerodrive Engineering Services (AES), founded by engineer Sofiane Amkoui. As reported by specialized media Infodefensa, this agreement requires the manufacturer to build a production line in Benslimane. This strategic industrial hub, located between Casablanca and Rabat, should be operational by 2027 to consolidate the country’s military ecosystem.

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This enthusiasm for explosive devices is part of a redefinition of military tactics, inspired by the effectiveness of these weapons in Ukraine and the Middle East. Capable of flying over an area before striking their target, these low-cost drones easily saturate enemy defenses. Rabat uses them massively to monitor its borders and track movements of the Polisario Front in the Sahara. This military collaboration is based on already established trust: AES has been producing a thousand Atlas ISTAR observation systems since 2024 in its Benguerir facilities.

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This industrial ambition logically attracts global sector giants. Foreign companies are establishing themselves in large numbers to make the country a true African hub for unmanned systems. Israeli BlueBird Aero Systems has already settled in Benslimane, while Turkish Baykar plans to inject up to 250 million dollars into its Moroccan subsidiary opened in 2025. French Delair is preparing a maintenance center in Rabat. Thanks to this momentum, the country hopes to gradually free itself from dependence on foreign suppliers to secure its sovereignty.