DR ‹ › The Italian defense industry is eyeing opportunities in the Moroccan market. «In a bid to clinch a new deal with the air force, the Leonardo group, known for its expertise in defense systems and partly owned by the Italian state, is working to win the favor of Moroccan authorities, despite somewhat tense relations», reported Africa Intelligence this Friday. Leonardo is pitching its M-346 Master aircraft to the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), a sophisticated trainer and light attack aircraft. The company has tasked Davide Fazio, the vice-president of business development, with leading this initiative. It's a challenging endeavor, as the Italian proposal faces stiff competition from the Chinese Hongdu L-15 Falcon, according to the same source. This renewed push comes amid internal changes at Leonardo. On April 10, the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni decided to replace the group's president, nominating Lorenzo Mariani as his successor at the upcoming shareholders' meeting. This appointment is expected to be officially confirmed on May 7. Back in 2022, Leonardo was a contender among global manufacturers for a helicopter contract in Morocco. However, it was Airbus that ultimately secured the deal in November 2025, agreeing to supply ten H225M Caracal helicopters to replace the aging Puma helicopters that have served for over four decades.
