Morocco Deploys Drones to Counter Polisario Attacks in Western Sahara Conflict

Morocco has been using drones against the Polisario since late 2020. The drones, particularly the Chinese-made Wing Loong models, have helped the kingdom monitor the situation in its southern provinces and keep the region under control for the next two years, reports Defensa. The first use of drones by Morocco dates back to April 2021, the Spanish site recalls, noting that a Polisario commander and other members had been prevented from launching an offensive operation.

The use of drones becomes more intense in the following months. Thanks to these devices, Morocco has managed to thwart several Polisario operations aimed at launching offensives in the buffer zone or in other regions. The kingdom has thus deployed drones in various bases across the Sahara, including in Laayoune and Smara. Laayoune has become a base for the Wing Loong drones thanks to its SATCOM infrastructure which has allowed the drones to carry out missions beyond a range of 300 kilometers.

After acquiring the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, the Israeli WanderB and ThunderB drones, etc., "Morocco is seeking to develop a local military industry", notably with the manufacture of reconnaissance and combat drones, had stated the Minister in charge of the Administration of National Defense, Abdellatif Loudyi. This will allow it to strengthen its armaments in general and to effectively counter the threat posed by the Polisario militiamen, in particular.