After years of cooperation with Morocco, Baykar, a Turkish company specializing in drone manufacturing, has decided to build a factory in the country. This will be the Kingdom's defense factory following the one currently under construction by BlueBird Aero Systems. Baykar, Turkey's premier drone manufacturer, has inaugurated a factory in Morocco, marking a new chapter in the growing partnership between the two nations. This milestone was officially confirmed by the Official Gazette n°5857 on January 29, 2025. The newly established Moroccan subsidiary, named «Atlas Defence», is based in Rabat and boasts a capital of 2.5 million dirhams. The company's operations will encompass the design, production, and maintenance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), along with the manufacture of spare parts and technological systems for the defense sector. Ownership of the company is shared between Lutfu Haluk Bayraktar and Selçuk Bayraktar, the latter being the son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since 2016. The company was officially registered with the Moroccan Trade Registry on December 5, 2024. This establishment represents the fruition of a long-standing cooperation between Turkey and Morocco. Back in September 2021, Morocco received its first batch of Bayraktar TB2 drones, followed by another delivery in August 2024, as announced by Baykar on social media. These drones have played a crucial role in countering attacks by Polisario militias in the buffer zone east of the Wall of Sands in the Sahara. A Military industry in the making The Royal Armed Forces (FAR) also revealed via Facebook that they would acquire Akıncı drones, another Baykar product, during 2025. Moroccan military personnel have been undergoing training in Turkey since 2021, further solidifying the defense ties between the two nations. Morocco is keen on advancing its military industry, particularly in drone production, as highlighted by Minister Delegate for Defense Abdellatif Loudiyi in November 2023. Besides Baykar, Morocco has partnered with Israeli firm BlueBird Aero Systems to establish a factory. Although construction began in April 2024, progress has been hampered by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The drones manufactured are intended for both domestic use and export across Africa. This dual collaboration with Turkey and Israel positions Morocco to enhance its defense capabilities and achieve greater technological autonomy.
