Israel’s defence presence in North Africa is set to deepen as BlueBird Aero Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), prepares to inaugurate the region’s first large-scale suicide drone manufacturing facility in Morocco. The plant, located in Benslimane outside Casablanca, will assemble SpyX loitering munitions, high-precision kamikaze drones designed for autonomous strike missions.
The SpyX platform can hover over an area for up to 90 minutes, identify targets such as armored vehicles or military installations, and execute impact strikes using a 2.5-kilogram warhead. With speeds reaching 250 km/h and the ability to redirect missions mid-flight, the system reflects a new generation of loitering munitions increasingly used in modern warfare.
Moroccan engineers will undergo specialised training in drone assembly, maintenance, and testing, creating a local pool of technical expertise. This training is expected to support future defence projects as Morocco pushes to expand its domestic military manufacturing capacity.
The inauguration marks a strategic milestone for Morocco, which has intensified defence spending under King Mohammed VI. The 2026 defence budget hit a record $15.7 billion, fueling acquisitions such as US-made Abrams tanks, Atmos howitzers, Barak 8 air defence systems, and precision-guided “Extra” rockets. The partnership with Israel follows the 2020 Abraham Accords, which opened the door to closer military cooperation. Between 2019 and 2023, Israel accounted for 11% of Morocco’s defence imports, according to SIPRI.
While countries like Sudan and Ethiopia have recently introduced their own suicide drone initiatives, Morocco’s new plant stands out as the first full-scale, formalised production facility on the continent tied directly to an Israeli aerospace manufacturer. The move positions North Africa as an emerging zone for advanced defence manufacturing, traditionally dominated by Europe, the US, and Asian suppliers.
By developing local production lines and deepening integration with foreign technology partners, Morocco is signalling ambitions to become a regional hub for drone innovation and defence exports. The upcoming launch of the SpyX facility represents a major step toward that goal and underscores the shifting landscape of military industrialisation across Africa.
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