Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco at the end of the month (October 29?) as part of the warming of relations between Rabat and Paris, whets the appetites of French industrialists, including those in arms and energy. According to our information, two files are in serious discussions (helicopters and submarines), one of which occupies the top of the pile (helicopters). Airbus Helicopters and Morocco are negotiating a large order for Caracal, the number of which could be up to 18 aircraft (12 for the air force and 6 for the gendarmerie), according to consistent sources. A contract estimated between 600 and 800 million euros, which would provide work in both Marignane and Bordes for the engine manufacturer Safran Helicopter Engines (SHE).
On the other hand, Morocco chose Embraer to equip its air force with the new tactical transport aircraft (between 6 and 8 C-390 Millennium). For its part, Airbus is negotiating with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) the sale of A220, A320 and A330 aircraft with a view to renewing part of the company’s fleet. A fleet until now exclusively Boeing, with the exception of a few aircraft from the Brazilian Embraer (Embraer 190) and the European manufacturer ATR, owned 50-50 by Airbus and Leonardo (ATR 72-600).
Strong South Korean competition for Naval Group
For its part, Naval Group is facing very strong competition in Morocco from the South Korean shipyards Hanwha and Hyundaï for the sale of two submarines and the construction of a submarine. In particular, it must face fierce rivals who offer cheaper submersibles but equipped with the same technology that Naval Group developed with Saft (lithium-ion batteries). These batteries provide a competitive advantage, particularly against the market leader in conventional submarines ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The balance is currently tipped in favor of South Korean submarines. Morocco is expected to order submarines in 2025.
In the land sector, Morocco also seems to be moving away from French industrialists even if KNDS France (formerly Nexter) has finally purged some “irritants” from the contract signed in 2020 for the sale of 36 Caesar cannons to the FAR (Royal Armed Forces), the first copies of which were delivered in 2022. Because the Indian group Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), a subsidiary of the Tata Group, will install an assembly plant in Casablanca to produce WhAP 8×8 wheeled armored vehicles for the FAR with the ultimate ambition of serving the African market. Which is not good news for KNDS France and Arquus.
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