Construction is officially underway in Benslimane on what will soon become a major hub for military aircraft maintenance in Morocco. The first phase includes a state-of-the-art hangar spanning over 8,000 square meters, purpose-built to handle advanced maintenance and modernization work on C-130 Hercules and F-16 aircraft. The project represents a major strategic move by Morocco to strengthen its independence in the defense aerospace sector.
At the heart of this ambitious development is a collaboration between Maintenance Aéro Maroc, a subsidiary of Sabena Engineering, and Maintenance Aeronautic Assets. Backed by a network of strategic partners—including the Orizio Group, U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, and MEDZ, the industrial development arm of Morocco’s CDG group—the project aims to transform Benslimane into a regional technical powerhouse in military aviation.
The launch ceremony drew high-level institutional and industry leaders, reflecting the project’s importance. Representatives from Morocco’s Royal Air Forces and the National Defense Administration stood alongside senior figures from Sabena and Lockheed Martin, signaling a unified commitment to the site’s long-term potential. This facility is envisioned as more than just a maintenance center—it’s designed to become a catalyst for building deep technical expertise across the sector.
The facility is being tailored to perform heavy maintenance operations—known as PDMs—on Morocco’s key military aircraft platforms. And this is only the beginning. Future expansion is already being planned, including additional modules that would extend services to other types of aircraft, including helicopters.
The project has broader ambitions than simply servicing fleets. It’s designed to generate skilled technical jobs, accelerate technology transfer, and strengthen local industrial value chains. For Sabena Engineering, this marks a major step forward. CEO Stéphane Burton sees the Benslimane center as a future hub with the potential to serve clients across the Mediterranean.
Lockheed Martin echoes that vision. Ray Piselli, the company’s vice president for international business, emphasized the mutual benefits of this bilateral initiative. In his view, the Benslimane facility represents a shared industrial vision that will deliver lasting value for both Morocco and the United States.
The center is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2026. But even now, it’s already playing a foundational role in Morocco’s broader push to scale up its defense and aerospace capabilities.
