The Defense Post reports that BlueBird Aero Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has opened a factory in Morocco to produce loitering munitions.
The facility, located in Benslimane near Casablanca, will manufacture SpyX suicide drones and is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa outside Israel.
The SpyX drone carries a 2.5-kg warhead, reaches speeds of up to 250 km/h, and can operate autonomously for up to 90 minutes. Designed to strike tanks, armored vehicles, and military bases, the system was tested by the Moroccan army in March 2024. Establishing the new plant is part of Morocco’s effort to strengthen its defense independence. As part of the project, Moroccan engineers will receive training in local assembly and maintenance.
Since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, Morocco has become a major client of the Israeli defense industry, increasingly turning away from French suppliers. In July, for example, Morocco chose to purchase Ofeq-13 satellites from IAI instead of French alternatives from Airbus and Thales.