Morocco signed on Wednesday an industrial compensation agreement with the American company Boeing, as part of the extension of the acquisition program of Apache helicopters, aimed at modernizing and strengthening the operational capabilities of Moroccan Royal Forces (FAR) as well as the emergence of a defense industry sector in Morocco.
According to The National Defense Administration statement, this agreement provides for strengthening the autonomy of the Royal Air Force in terms of metrology, manufacturing, and composite repair of various spare parts and superstructures, according to the most advanced aeronautical standards.
Also, it reflects the willingness of the parties to strengthen the existing partnership between Morocco and the American company Boeing through the implementation of joint strategic projects while promoting the emergence of a Defense Industrial and Technological Base in the Kingdom.
The agreement also strengthens cooperation in the field of research and development and technology transfer through the qualification of Moroccan engineering offices to international standards in the aerospace sector as well as the realization, in partnership with the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University of Ben Guerir, of a research center for advanced additive manufacturing 4.0.
Also, and as an extension of the industrial memorandum of understanding, signed before His Majesty the King, on September 27, 2016, for the creation in the Kingdom of Morocco of an ecosystem of aeronautical equipment, the compensation agreement, concluded today, provides for the realization by the Boeing Company from qualified local manufacturers of a volume of sourcing of spare parts of US$ 150 million, contributing to the creation of jobs in Morocco and the economic revival of the national aeronautics sector, adds the statement.
The signing ceremony was presided by Abdeltif Loudyi, minister delegate to the Head of government, in charge of the National Defense Administration, at the headquarters of this Administration, in the presence of Lieutenant General, Inspector General of FAR and Commander of the South Zone, Lieutenant General, Commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, and other senior officials of FAR General Staff as well as representatives of the Embassy of the United States of America in Rabat.
