Indian defence company considers Morocco investment

Morocco’s defence industry looks set to flourish further as an Indian defence company is considering investing in the Kingdom, according to the pro-Moroccan North Africa Post and agencies on February 23rd.

Indian defence contractor MKU, an international leader in advanced ballistic protection and optronic systems, is reportedly considering opening a plant in Morocco.

This announcement followed the success of the Tata Advanced Systems plant in Morocco, established in partnership with Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces in September 2025, which is producing the armoured combat vehicle WhAP 8×8.

According to Indian sources, the proposed MKU plant would produce helmets with an integrated night vision capability, which would support infantry forces operating in low-light and counter-insurgency environments.

It was reported on January 8th that Morocco had received its first locally produced WhAP 8×8 armoured vehicles, signalling the Kingdom’s growing military ties with foreign investors, namely India.

Morocco’s 2026 defence budget was projected to rise by 17.6% amid growing regional tensions with Algeria, as the Kingdom strengthened military cooperation with India and Israel, the latter of which views defence ties as a strategic gateway to North and West Africa.

Similarly, in October 2025, Morocco used a conference hosted by the Indian Army in New Delhi to advance military ties with the country.

Following the conference, India’s Ministry of Defence said the alliance “provides for a robust institutional framework to the growing partnership and paves the way for collaboration in the defence industry, joint exercises, military training and capacity building.”

News of Morocco’s alliance with India came days after the Kingdom reportedly hosted tests of a new Israeli-made kamikaze drone on its soil.

Morocco’s defence partnerships are not limited to the Middle East and Asia, as the Kingdom reaffirmed its collaboration with US defence contractor Lockheed Martin at the World Defence Show in early February.

The Kingdom has longstanding ties to Lockheed Martin, which began in 1974 with the C-130H Hercules tactical airlifter to the Royal Moroccan Air Force.

Similarly, Morocco has purchased F-35 fighter jets from the US, despite US policy historically restricting the sale of these aircraft in the Middle East to Israel.

Furthermore, Morocco was the only African country included in a multi-million-dollar US military support deal, which would provide long-term maintenance and repair-and-return support for F-16 fighter jet radar components through November 2030.

Lockheed Martin is one of several defence contractors that have faced criticism for alleged complicity in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed over 71,000 people since 2023.

North Africa Post and agencies, Maghrebi.org