Morocco joins US program to speed up drone purchases from months to days
Morocco has signed an agreement in Washington giving it access to a new US program for acquiring drones and counter-drone systems. The US Army says it will cut some procurement procedures from several months to just a few days.
The Royal Armed Forces could soon acquire some US military drones much more quickly. On Tuesday, October 13, Morocco officially joined a US Army program designed to make it easier to buy drones and equipment capable of neutralizing them. The signing took place in Washington during the AUSA 2026 military exhibition, in the presence of Moroccan Colonel-Major Youssef Moukadiri, identified in the official photograph published by the US Army.
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The Kingdom is one of eight countries that signed a declaration of intent at the ceremony, alongside Canada, Japan, Egypt, Kuwait, Albania, Croatia and Panama. In all, 29 partners are now taking part in the initiative launched by Washington to accelerate the modernization of their military capabilities.
In practical terms, participating countries will be able to access two secure digital platforms. The first is dedicated to military drones, the second to counter-drone systems. These catalogs bring together equipment whose technical specifications, export conditions and contractual terms have been reviewed in advance by US authorities.
Drone purchases in days instead of months
Washington intends to make a difference precisely when it comes to timelines. The program, called “FMS Fast Lane,” relies on pre-established contracts and authorizations prepared in advance. It is intended to allow partner militaries to order standardized equipment without having to repeat all the administrative steps normally required for US military sales.
“Our partners can now go from request to purchase in days rather than months,” said Brent Ingraham, the US Army’s head of acquisitions. Reviews covering technology transfers, export licenses and the disclosure of sensitive information are completed before an order is even placed.
The new option comes as Morocco is already strengthening its cooperation with Washington on drone warfare. In July, the two militaries signed an agreement to establish a multidomain African training and testing center in Tan-Tan. Scheduled to open by 2030, the complex is to include an academy dedicated to drones and a facility for developing new military technologies.
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The new mechanism could complement this partnership by making it easier to acquire the equipment needed for training, surveillance and protecting forces from enemy drones. For the Moroccan military, another advantage is the ability to choose equipment already evaluated under US programs, with procurement procedures harmonized among partner countries.
