Morocco expands aerospace and defense industry at Marrakech Air Show

The Marrakech Air Show 2026 has highlighted significant industrial and defense developments in Morocco. The UAE-based EDGE Group signed contracts with Morocco’s Administration of National Defence to supply precision-guided munitions, including the Desert Sting 16 (DS-16) and Thunder P-31, to equip the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) fleet. Additionally, EDGE and Morocco agreed to explore local production of small arms and aeronautical propulsion systems.

In the civil aviation sector, Airbus announced plans to expand its Moroccan footprint by 30%, including the potential construction of a third factory focused on design and manufacturing. Airbus also intends to launch a helicopter maintenance operation to serve the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and West African markets. Meanwhile, Thales has entered a five-year partnership with Royal Air Maroc to digitalize flight operations using the AvioBook Flight electronic flight bag solution.

Other notable developments include Harmattan AI signing an agreement to develop the IRIFI long-range strike drone and establish an engineering center in Rabat and a factory in Nouaceur. These moves align with Morocco’s broader industrial strategy to transition from a production platform to a high-tech aerospace and defense hub.