African Lion 26 concluded on 8 May 2026 after weeks of multinational operations across land, air, sea, cyber and space domains in Morocco.
Led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) alongside the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, the exercise involved more than 40 partner nations and demonstrated the growing scale and complexity of modern joint military operations.
The exercise showcased advanced battlefield technologies including artificial intelligence-enabled command and control systems, autonomous platforms, unmanned aerial systems, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and counter-drone operations. These technologies were integrated into realistic combat scenarios involving defence in depth, deep strike operations and coordinated multinational counterattacks.
According to U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Patrick Jeffrey, the exercise highlighted the future of warfare through multi-domain operations combining advanced technology with multinational coordination. He said the training helped modernise combat capability while improving interoperability between allied forces.
Throughout the exercise, forces conducted live-fire drills, humanitarian outreach activities and technology testing alongside more than 30 U.S. industry partners. The event also served as a proving ground for emerging military systems designed to improve battlefield awareness, accelerate decision-making and reduce risk to personnel.
U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said the exercise reflected the importance of international partnerships in addressing evolving security threats across the continent.
With participation from 28 African nations and 20 international allies, African Lion 26 reinforced multinational cooperation, operational readiness and collective security across Africa and beyond.
