Israeli Company Opens Kamikaze Drone Plant in Morocco
Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary BlueBird Aero Systems has inaugurated a production site in Morocco to build its SpyX loitering munitions.
Established in Benslimane, Casablanca-Settat, the facility positions Morocco as the first country in North Africa and the Middle East, after Israel, to manufacture the kamikaze drones.
The project also supports a technology transfer program to train Moroccan engineers to assemble and sustain the systems locally, according to local media.
SpyX is a precision tactical drone that can strike tanks, armored vehicles, and troop concentrations up to fifty kilometers away.
It is armed with a 2.5-kilogram (6-pound) warhead, has a maximum speed of 250 kilometers (155 miles) per hour, and can conduct autonomous missions for up to 90 minutes.
Moroccan forces successfully tested the aircraft in March 2024.
Defense Industry Expansion
Sources said that the Benslimane factory is central to Rabat’s broader push to modernize its armed forces and expand defense partnerships.
Alongside the Israeli project, the government has launched drone production hubs with Turkey’s Baykar and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Maroc, while also expanding US acquisitions, including Abrams main battle tank support.
Morocco recently raised its defense budget to approximately $15.7 billion for 2026, reflecting a strategy to bolster national defense, reinforce technological independence, and create a regional military production network.
