Morocco is entering a new phase in its drive to build a sovereign defense industry, according to L’Espace marocain, the scientific magazine of the Royal Air Force. The framework has attracted major players such as Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM), a joint venture involving Moroccan, Belgian and American partners, including Lockheed Martin. Other initiatives reinforce this momentum such as Sabena Engineering, MEDZ, and Lockheed Martin who combined Moroccan skills with European and American expertise to boost local capabilities and technology transfer. In addition to that, Thales has inaugurated a metal additive manufacturing center in Casablanca, and Lockheed Martin is deepening cooperation in aeronautical maintenance and cybersecurity. According to the same publication, these projects collectively signal Morocco’s determination to build a fully integrated and sovereign defense industrial base—still emerging, but increasingly taking shape.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 02, 2026 12:39 UTC