Morocco is taking a new CAP in its cooperation with the United States in the Defense field. A large-scale industrial project, aimed at manufacturing and assembling the structures of the latest generation F-16 hunters, will soon see the light of day in the Midparc industrial zone in Nouaceur, near Casablanca.
The United States has officially included Morocco in the latest generation F-16 fighter’s production chain. A factory for the manufacture and assembly of structures of these devices will be located in the Midparc industrial zone in Nouaceur, near Casablanca.
The planned industrial site will be dedicated to the production of key parts of the F-16, in particular the most advanced version F-16V “Viper”, with aesa radar systems and sophisticated armaments. This model remains one of the most used in the world in the category of Multi -Off Aircraft. The Moroccan factory will have high -precision production lines mobilizing advanced technologies, with the participation of engineers and technicians trained locally in the aeronautical trades.
Increased industrial cooperation with Lockheed Martin
This project is part of a broader dynamic of strengthening cooperation between Rabat and Washington in the military field. Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of the F-16, multiplies initiatives in Morocco. A high -level delegation of the American company, led by General Joseph Rank, CEO of Lockheed Martin for Africa and Saudi Arabia, went to Morocco at the end of April.
She met officials in Rabat and visited several industrial partners in Casablanca, notably TDM Morocco, Sabca Maroc, Collins Aerospace RFM and Exellia Maroc. This visit, facilitated by the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE), was perceived as a high commitment signal from Lockheed Martin.
This rapprochement is part of a history of cooperation dating back to 1974, a delivery year of the first C-130 Hercules plane to the Royal Armed Forces. Today, Morocco is a major Customer of the F-16 in the region, with the recent acquisition of 25 F-16V units and the modernization of its existing fleet. A bilateral roadmap, covering the period 2020–2030, aims to deepen this military and technological cooperation.
The Nouaceur project is expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, strengthen the local industrial basis, and make Morocco a strategic player in the global logistics chain of Lockheed Martin. It is part of a context where the kingdom is increasingly attracting major players in the defense industry, such as Baykar (Turkey), Bluebird (Israel) and Tata Systems (India), thus consolidating its positioning as an emerging regional pole in this sector.
