Morocco Set to Expand Africa’s Second-Largest Military Drone Fleet

With 223 military drones in service in 2023, Morocco has the second largest military drone fleet in Africa. It is ahead of Egypt (267 military drones). With 177 drones, Nigeria completes the African top 3, according to the African Military Organization.

Since 2021, Morocco has acquired various drone models from China, Israel and Turkey. It has 19 Bayraktar TB2 designed by the Turkish company Baykar. It also has drones such as WanderB and ThunderB, acquired from the Israeli company BlueBird Aero Systems. These aircraft are used for surveillance and air defense missions. Thanks to the strengthening of military cooperation between Rabat and Tel Aviv, the Israeli company BlueBird Aero Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), will soon launch its drone manufacturing plant in Morocco.

Morocco is determined to expand its military drone fleet. It will receive the Turkish Bayraktar Akinci drones next year. Developed by the Turkish company Baykar, the Bayraktar Akinci is a state-of-the-art drone with impressive characteristics. The aircraft has a flight endurance of 25 hours, a range of up to 7,500 kilometers and can carry a payload of 1,500 kilograms. This drone is capable of launching precision-guided missiles and carrying out surgical strikes. A real key tool for long-range surveillance