Summary:

On 7 October 2026, Morocco opened the eighth Marrakech Air Show, where the National Defense Administration signed a letter of intent with French firm Harmattan AI to develop and manufacture the IRIFI strike drone, which the company says has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers. 

The project forms part of Morocco’s broader effort to expand domestic defense production and develop capabilities in autonomous systems, alongside a separate initiative to establish an anti-drone manufacturing ecosystem targeting annual production of up to 55,000 systems. The exhibition also saw Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Safran and Moroccan institutions launch an advanced manufacturing research platform, while Safran announced a 120-million-dirham investment in a facility for aircraft engine lubrication systems. 

Outlook: 

While Morocco’s expansion into aerospace and defense manufacturing supports its ambition to move up the industrial value chain and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, it also strengthens its partnerships with established defense powers. 

As aerospace manufacturing increasingly integrates AI-enabled autonomous systems and drone technology, Rabat appears to be accounting for a regional security environment in which technological superiority and domestic production capacity carry growing strategic weight. 

Closer cooperation with the United States, France and Israel could also position Morocco as a regional production and maintenance base for their defense systems across Africa and the Mediterranean, reinforcing its strategic value to these partners as regional security priorities evolve.

Explore our services or speak with our team of North Africa-based risk experts.