Morocco is seeking to build more aircraft parts and military equipment at home after signing 10 industrial agreements with aerospace and defence companies at the Marrakech Air Show 2026. The deals include seven agreements to reserve land for defence companies, three memorandums of understanding with aerospace manufacturers and a letter confirming interest in the DRONEX project, which focuses on unmanned aircraft systems. The agreements were announced by MEDZ, a subsidiary of the CDG Group, through two industrial platforms: MIDPARC, which supports aerospace manufacturing, and the Defence Industrial Zones Management Company (SGZID), a joint venture between MEDZ and ALEM, the military infrastructure agency.
The aim is to attract investment, expand local manufacturing and reduce reliance on equipment and services sourced from abroad.
The seven defence companies that signed agreements with SGZID are ARQUUS, MARCOTEC, MKU, INKAS, ABA TECHNOLOGIE, IGG/BAL TEQ DEFENSE INDUSTRIES and HARMATTAN AI.
The agreements concern land in specialised defence industrial zones where the companies can establish manufacturing and other operations.
Their areas of expertise range from armoured vehicles and protective equipment to electronics, military systems and artificial intelligence.
A separate letter confirming interest in the DRONEX project marks a step towards its formal implementation. The project aims to support the local manufacture, assembly and integration of unmanned aerial systems.
MIDPARC also signed three memorandums of understanding with aerospace manufacturers APS COATING, MECAPOLE and TRELLEBORG.
APS COATING plans to set up a facility to treat aircraft components. It will include wet and dry processing lines, as well as non-destructive testing, which checks components for defects without damaging them.
The facility would allow more of this specialised work to be carried out in Morocco rather than sending components abroad for treatment.
MECAPOLE plans to establish machining operations for structural parts used in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
TRELLEBORG, a Swedish manufacturer of specialised sealing systems, plans to double the size and capacity of its existing production site at MIDPARC. The expansion represents a 100% increase in both its physical footprint and production capacity.
The three projects are expected to add specialised chemical treatments and precision machining to the industrial services available in the country, while allowing an existing manufacturer to expand.
MIDPARC is located in Nouaceur, near Mohammed V International Airport. It is one of Morocco’s main aerospace industrial zones and hosts international companies including Safran, Boeing, Hexcel and Stelia Aerospace.
The agreements come as Morocco seeks to develop its own defence manufacturing capabilities alongside its established aerospace sector.
Law 10-20 provides the legal framework for the local manufacture, assembly, maintenance and research of defence and security equipment. Production requires licensing from the National Defence Administration.
Defence industrial acceleration zones are designed to provide dedicated land, infrastructure and regulatory arrangements for companies making military and dual-use equipment. They can also offer tax incentives and customs exemptions, subject to the applicable rules.
SGZID was created by MEDZ and ALEM to develop, market and manage these specialised zones.
The companies involved bring different capabilities to the proposed industrial ecosystem.
France’s ARQUUS specialises in military vehicles, including armoured transport vehicles and logistics fleets. Its potential activities include vehicle assembly and maintenance, repair and overhaul.
INKAS, a Canadian-founded manufacturer with operations in Canada and the United Arab Emirates, produces armoured personnel carriers, tactical vehicles and security platforms.
India’s MKU makes ballistic protection equipment, including body armour and helmets, as well as optical systems such as night-vision and thermal sights.
Moroccan technology group ABA TECHNOLOGIE works in electronics, connected devices and industrial systems, including technologies that can be adapted for defence applications.
HARMATTAN AI focuses on artificial intelligence, defence analytics, real-time threat intelligence and computer-based support for tactical decisions.
International Golden Group (IGG), based in Abu Dhabi, works in defence systems integration and is involved in the agreement alongside BAL TEQ DEFENSE INDUSTRIES. MARCOTEC is among the other industrial and technical service providers involved.
The DRONEX project is intended to develop local capabilities in unmanned aircraft systems. Its stated scope includes manufacturing, assembly and integration, although details of its planned facilities and production capacity have not been disclosed.
The agreements mark progress towards putting Morocco’s defence industrial zones into operation and broadening the country’s aerospace supply chain.
But the number of agreements alone does not show how much manufacturing will take place locally. Land reservations and memorandums of understanding are commitments towards projects, not proof that factories are already operating.
No total investment figure, job creation estimate or construction timetable was provided in the information released about the agreements.
The economic impact will depend on how quickly companies build their facilities, how much they invest and how many people they employ.
Another factor will be whether local defence manufacturers secure contracts to supply the Royal Armed Forces, known by their French acronym FAR. Such contracts could help determine the scale of domestic demand for the equipment produced.
