Morocco is studying the possibility of establishing a domestic factory to manufacture battle tanks starting in 2026, as part of a strategic move to lay the foundations for a national defense industry and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for ground-based military equipment, Assahifa has learned from a well-informed source.
The source told Assahifa that the project is still at the study and evaluation stage, but is receiving growing attention within Morocco’s military decision-making circles, particularly in light of shifting regional and international geopolitical dynamics and the increasing emphasis on strengthening industrial sovereignty in the defense sector.
According to the same source, international partnership options are being seriously considered, with India emerging as a potential partner, in line with expanding cooperation agreements between Rabat and New Delhi aimed at exchanging expertise and technology in strategic sectors, including defense.
This direction is reinforced by the recent inauguration of an Indian Tata Advanced Systems factory in the Berrechid area, dedicated to the production of armored vehicles. That project was widely seen as a turning point in Morocco–India defense cooperation and as a concrete step toward building local military manufacturing capabilities.
The source noted that the presence of this industrial facility on Moroccan soil has helped create a favorable technical and industrial base, encouraging Moroccan authorities to consider more complex projects, including the domestic production of main battle tanks.
India, the source added, is among the countries that already manufacture tanks locally, most notably the Arjun main battle tank, which theoretically opens the door for a Moroccan-based plant to produce a similar or adapted version. However, the source stressed that the Indian option has not yet been finalized and remains under evaluation.
Morocco, according to the same source, is currently assessing multiple technical and industrial scenarios, including the possibility of partnering with a different international actor to launch the tank manufacturing project as early as next year.
Any final decision regarding the type of tank to be produced or the choice of industrial partner will be subject to several key criteria, including technology transfer, the level of local industrial integration, cost considerations, and compatibility with the operational needs of the Royal Armed Forces.
The potential project fits into a broader framework of initiatives launched by Morocco in recent years to establish a national defense industrial base built on local manufacturing and long-term strategic partnerships.
These efforts include the creation of industrial units for assembling and manufacturing armored vehicles, the signing of cooperation agreements with major international defense companies, and the modernization of the legal framework governing military industries.
In parallel, Morocco has invested in developing its industrial infrastructure and setting up dedicated zones for high value-added industries, while placing strong emphasis on training and attracting national technical and engineering talent.
