More than 40 tech companies will work with US troops in Morocco from April 20 to May 8 to try out new military equipment during the African Lion 26 exercise.
The US Army’s Africa command is running the program. Soldiers will test tools like command systems, defence gear, and counter-attack tech. Units taking part include the 19th Special Forces, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade.
Lt. Col. Ramon Leonguerrero said the goal is to get new technology into soldiers’ hands quickly and make it ready for real operations.
Morocco’s wide-open ranges, free airspace, and flexible radio spectrum make it easy to test equipment on a big scale. The exercise will focus on speeding up how headquarters gather information and carry out strikes using AI tools and advanced sensors. Systems like the Maven Smart System will connect all the data to give commanders a clear picture of the battlefield.
Soldiers will give feedback on each system in real time, helping the military decide what to buy or improve. “This is our chance to test, fix, and improve new tech in real conditions,” Leonguerrero said.
Planning for the exercise started in December 2025, with US and Moroccan officials discussing logistics and cooperation. African Lion 26 will take place in Agadir, Tan Tan, Taroudant, Kenitra, and Benguerir.
Morocco’s military says past exercises involved over 40,000 troops, making it Africa’s biggest military event.
