India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has inaugurated its first overseas defence production facility in North Africa, marking a major step in both India’s global industrial expansion and Morocco’s ambitions to localize military manufacturing.
The new plant, located in Berrechid near Casablanca, underscores a deepening strategic relationship between the two nations and highlights Africa’s growing importance as a hub for defence investment amid rising regional security challenges.
The facility will assemble the 8×8 Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), a vehicle engineered for modern warfare and internal security missions.
The inauguration, attended by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdelatif Loudyi, reflects not just a new chapter in India–Morocco ties, but a strategic pivot by both countries toward localised defence capabilities.
According to Military Africa, the Berrechid plant will commence production with roughly 35% of its components sourced within Morocco, a figure expected to rise to 50% as supply networks develop.
Employing around 200 workers, it blends Indian engineering expertise with Moroccan manufacturing talent.
For Morocco, this facility advances its goal of building a self-sustaining defense ecosystem, one that can eventually supply not just its own forces but also export to nearby North African markets.
Africa’s new defense manufacturing momentum
Across the continent, countries are shifting from import dependency to domestic production.
Nigeria has partnered with Turkish and Chinese defence firms to assemble armoured vehicles and drones; Egypt continues to expand its weapons manufacturing base; and in the Sahel, smaller nations like Mali and Burkina Faso are exploring partnerships to meet urgent security needs.
The TASM project situates Morocco among these emerging defense producers, part of a continental trend that blends industrial policy with national security strategy.
Global defense companies are increasingly targeting Africa for investment, driven by rising military budgets and persistent security threats. For India, this expansion is both commercial and geopolitical: Morocco offers a stable North African base and access to Francophone markets where India seeks greater influence.
Meanwhile, companies from Turkey, China, and the UAE are competing for the same ground, viewing Africa as the next major defense growth zone.
For Morocco, producing the WhAP locally reduces reliance on U.S. and French suppliers whose export timelines have become unpredictable.
For India, it reflects its ambition to be not just an arms importer, but an exporter of advanced defense technology.
Together, both countries are helping define a new era of African defense self-reliance, where industrial cooperation meets continental security imperatives.
