Tomorrow, Drones Made in Morocco

According to the registration document published in the official gazette, 46-year-old Haluk Bayraktar is the company’s CEO. His brother, Selçuk, believed to be close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is its technical director, reports Le Monde, noting that the Bayraktar brothers are privileged partners of Morocco in the military field. Since 2021, the kingdom has acquired nearly twenty armed Bayraktar TB2 drones from the Turkish manufacturer. The Royal Armed Forces (FAR) have already used these drones to combat Polisario militiamen, the French newspaper notes.

To read: Combat drones: a Turkish factory in Morocco?

The creation of Atlas Defense in Morocco strengthens military cooperation between Rabat and Ankara and marks a step toward achieving the kingdom’s objective of becoming a regional production hub for Turkish drones, which could alter the balance of power in the region. In recent years, Morocco has acquired several drones to strengthen and modernize its army, including the Akinci, a next-generation Turkish drone capable of flying at high altitude and carrying heavier payloads.

To read: Moroccan drone factory in turmoil?

The Akinci drone is equipped with an AESA radar (Active Electronically Scanned Array) capable of detecting and tracking several targets simultaneously. With a flight endurance of up to 24 hours and a range of 6,000 kilometers, it can be dedicated to reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The Turkish drone can be equipped with missiles and long-range guided bombs, enabling it to carry out airstrikes with the precision of a fighter aircraft.