The Israeli company specializing in defense systems, Elbit Systems, plans to set up two production plants in Morocco, announced Shai Cohen, head of the Israeli liaison office in Rabat.
Although specific details of the sites and operations that Israeli company Elbit Systems will take over were not disclosed, Shai Cohen confirmed that one of the complexes would be located in the Casablanca area.
It should be recalled that Morocco has carried out major transactions with Elbit Systems, in particular the acquisition of Hermes-900 drones and the PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) artillery rocket launcher system, which is now and already operational within the Royal Armed Forces (FAR).
The sites that the company plans to establish could thus be used to support these systems or for the production of systems to be acquired in the future. In addition, the agreements would help strengthen the country’s defense and security capabilities, as well as promote economic and military cooperation with Israel.
Since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations in December 2020, Morocco and Israel have sought to strengthen their cooperation in various sectors, particularly in the field of defence. In just two years, many transactions and acquisitions of new technologies have taken place. Additionally, this year Israel participated for the first time in the African Lion exercises which will continue until June 16, 2023.
In 2021, several agreements were signed between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Moroccan National Defense Administration with the aim of establishing the legal framework for military, security and technical cooperation between the two countries.
These include the signing of an agreement on the protection of information in the field of defence, as well as a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of cybersecurity. In addition, there is a Defense Sector Memorandum of Understanding which covers exchange of experience, training, technology transfer and cooperation in the defense industry.