New MoU further cements Israel-Morocco defence ties
IAI President and CEO Boaz Levy (left), Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour (centre), and IAI Chairman Amir Peretz (right) after signing a new MoU in Rabat. (Photo: IAI)
IAI has agreed with the Moroccan trade and industry ministry to ‘promote dynamic and innovative bilateral economic cooperation in the fields of investment and technology’.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Moroccan trade and industry ministry signed an MoU in Rabat on 23 March ‘to promote dynamic and innovative bilateral economic cooperation in the fields of investment and technology’.
This partnership is part of the implementation of the Joint Declaration between Morocco and Israel signed on 22 December 2020 in Rabat, IAI added in a 23 March statement.
The two countries signed an MoU for defence cooperation and intelligence-sharing in November 2021, and Shephard reported in December 2021 that warmer diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco are likely to result in the sale of advanced defence equipment to the North African country.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that Morocco acquired four Elbit Hermes 900 multi-role MALE UAVs in 2021.
One of the features of the Israel-Morocco MoU is a commitment to share technology. Morocco intends not only to expand its UAV fleet (as shown by two deals this year to buy Bayraktar TB2s) but also to grow its domestic production capabilities via technology transfer.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO's eastern flank]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO's eastern flank
Autonomous systems developer Milrem has evolved a model for an interoperable robotised approach to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), showing how uncrewed systems could provide a multi-layered defence architecture in the air and on land along NATO’s eastern borders.
-
![Agile, sovereign, edge-ready: rewiring defence IT for a contested decade]()
Agile, sovereign, edge-ready: rewiring defence IT for a contested decade
Today's rapidly changing security landscape means that armed forces can no longer treat their data in the same way as in the past. What are the key challenges they face, and how can industry help them?
-
![US lawmakers prepare a historic investment in stockpile replenishment in FY2027]()
US lawmakers prepare a historic investment in stockpile replenishment in FY2027
The House Armed Services Committee recently released the Chairman’s NDAA FY2027 markup, which supports the Pentagon’s request for nearly $90 billion for long-range missiles, air defence interceptors, precision-guided munitions and industrial baseline items.
-
![Six critical capability gaps shaping the US Golden Dome implementation]()
Six critical capability gaps shaping the US Golden Dome implementation
How emerging technologies and capability priorities will shape America’s next-generation missile defence system.
