Rabat, October 8, 2026 – The Europe Today: Morocco and international partners signed a series of agreements at the opening of the 2026 Marrakech Airshow aimed at strengthening the country’s aviation and aerospace industries, advancing research and development, and expanding domestic defense and technological capabilities.
One of the key agreements involves Morocco’s OCP Group, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the National Defense Administration and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), together with major international aerospace companies including Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Safran. The partnership seeks to advance research, advanced manufacturing and industrial capabilities in Morocco.
The Technical Center for Mechanical Industries also signed an agreement with the ACME platform to establish the Africa Center of Manufacturing Excellence, bringing together institutional and industrial stakeholders to support advanced manufacturing research, technology development and industrialization.
Another agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Royal Air Maroc aims to increase the integration of Moroccan-made products and services into the national carrier’s supply chain, strengthening opportunities for domestic manufacturers and suppliers.
Meanwhile, an agreement involving the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Safran Oil Systems provides for the establishment of an industrial subsidiary in Morocco focused on developing capabilities related to aircraft-engine lubrication systems and fluid management.
In the defense technology sector, Moroccan authorities signed an agreement with Harmattan AI to develop next-generation counter-drone technologies. The cooperation covers research and development, engineering, production, integration and testing.
A separate agreement between the National Defense Administration and Harmattan AI focuses on the development of a Moroccan-made drone, as part of efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s technological and defense sovereignty.
The eighth edition of the Marrakech Airshow opened at the Royal Moroccan Air Force Base in Marrakech, bringing together nearly 200 exhibitors from 27 countries. The event is focusing this year on industrial sovereignty, resilient supply chains, advanced defense systems and artificial intelligence.
Morocco’s Delegate Minister for National Defense Abdellatif Loudyi said the country’s aerospace sector had undergone a significant transformation from basic assembly toward advanced manufacturing and engineering.
He emphasized the strategic importance of the aerospace industry and related technologies in strengthening national industrial capabilities, while highlighting Morocco’s ambition to develop into a global hub for aircraft manufacturing and maintenance.
The agreements signed at the airshow form part of Morocco’s broader strategy to attract international investment, develop domestic technological expertise, strengthen industrial supply chains and build greater national capacity in aviation and defense.
