Aerodrive Engineering Services, a Moroccan company specializing in drone technology, in late last year announced the successful first flight of Atlas Istar, the country’s first fully Moroccan-made military drone.
The company made the announcement on Linkedin, stressing that “this milestone marks a significant achievement in our journey to develop a state-of-the-art unmanned aerial system designed for military surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations.”
The statement noted that the successful launch took “months of rigorous testing,” with the team’s “dedication and expertise” resulting in a system capable of providing “real-time intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance in critical missions.”
The successful test aligns with Morocco’s efforts to build a self-sufficient military industrial base and reduce its reliance on foreign arms imports. This in turn is in line with a broader strategy of King Mohammed VI to promote the creation of a local military industry.
One of the major initiatives discussed at a Ministerial Council chaired by King Mohammed VI in June is the creation of two “defense industrial acceleration zones.” These zones are intended to serve as hubs for manufacturing defense and security equipment, weapons, and munitions.
Also, concurrently, at the Marrakesh Air Show at the end of October 2024, British drone company Tekever said it was forming a partnership with Droneway, a Moroccan firm. This will lead to investment in industrial projects, test platforms, training, assembly, maintenance, and logistical support.
Tekever’s drones specialise in aerial surveillance, so its technology and expertise will likely assist Morocco’s military and intelligence apparatus. The company’s chief executive Ricardo Mendes said the partnership “will prove critical in establishing Morocco as the African leader in drone technologies.
More recently, Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar is set to expand its global footprint by establishing a production facility in Morocco.
According to Morocco-based news agency Le Desk, the new facility will enhance Baykar’s presence in the African UAV and UCAV market. The company is a prominent player on the continent, and this move is expected to strengthen its standing even further. Morocco is already a customer of Baykar, having acquired the Bayraktar TB2 armed drones. Morocco is also in discussions to acquire Baykar’s more advanced Bayraktar Akıncı drones. With the first two Akinci drones delivered in 2025.