The Benslimane industrial zone east of Casablanca is rapidly transforming into a major aerospace hub for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combining homegrown technology with international partnerships. In recent years, Morocco has strategically invested capital and talent to position itself as a key player in the global drone market. Local companies like Aerodrive Engineering Services are carving out significant market share alongside prominent French, Israeli, Turkish and British drone manufacturers establishing local operations.
In 2025, Morocco granted manufacturing licenses to 10 distinct drone projects valued at over $260 million. National Defence Administration chief Abdellatif Loudiyi informed Parliament that the overarching objective is to build a self-sustaining indigenous defence industrial base capable of supplying the Moroccan military and generating high-tech products for international export. Analysts note that this technological push builds upon Morocco’s established history as a reliable regional manufacturing base for global aerospace giants such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Safran.
The drive toward autonomy is also deeply tied to domestic security and border realities. The Moroccan military has steadily expanded its fleet, initially acquiring 13 Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones under a $70 million deal in 2021, followed by additional TB2 deliveries in 2024 and advanced Akinci drones in 2025. By collaborating on a production facility in Morocco, Turkish manufacturer Baykar places its technology closer to African clients for accelerated delivery. Military Africa analysts emphasize that the Benslimane facility is well-positioned to potentially supply drone fleets to other nations across the continent.
Simultaneously, domestic innovation is reaching new milestones. Aerodrive Engineering Services launched the Atlas Istar—Morocco’s first domestically manufactured military drone designed for intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations—and plans to initiate production of 500 one-way attack drones at the Benslimane site in 2027. Beyond manufacturing, Morocco has been designated a regional drone training centre for African militaries under the framework of Exercise African Lion 2026. This centre will focus on analysing operational data, conducting training exercises and improving electronic warfare technologies, allowing Morocco to bolster its regional economic status while reducing its long-term reliance on foreign defence contractors.
