Morocco Partners with Lockheed Martin and Belgian Firms to Boost Aerospace Industry

Citing a press release from the Belgian group, the Far-Maroc forum reports that Morocco, the Blueberry Group (Sabca and Sabena Aerospace) and the American defense giant Lockheed Martin, have signed a strategic partnership in the presence of Abdellatif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration, to launch the joint venture Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM) in the kingdom. A state-of-the-art 15,000 m² maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade center for military aircraft and helicopters will be built as part of this partnership at Benslimane airport. Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM) will be the operator.

This strategic partnership aims to promote the international development of the Belgian group while supporting the power maintenance needs of the Royal Air Force (FRA) and bringing high-tech jobs and technical capabilities to the country, it is pointed out. "We are extremely proud to start this new partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco and Lockheed Martin, offering high-quality power maintenance services for the Moroccan Air Force, and then quickly for other customers in the region. We are very pleased to see MAM join our international network of maintenance solutions, offering opportunities to develop new expertise on other platforms," said Stéphane Burton, CEO of Blueberry group.

"This important cooperation is the result of several years of evaluation and discussions that will ensure that the Kingdom of Morocco receives the best possible industrial facilities, equipment, training and certifications to meet the power maintenance needs of the Royal Moroccan Air Force and other international customers," said Danya Trent, Vice President of Lockheed Martin in charge of the F-16 program.