India’s First Overseas Defence Plant In Morocco: Key Facts And Strategic Importance

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate India’s first overseas defence manufacturing facility in Morocco during his two-day visit to the North African nation from September 22 to 23. According to an official release, this is also the first-ever visit by an Indian defence minister to Morocco.

During his visit, Rajnath Singh will meet Morocco’s Minister Delegate of National Defence, Abdellatif Loudiyi, to reinforce defence, strategic, and industrial cooperation.

He is also scheduled to call on Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to “explore avenues for industrial collaboration,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Both countries are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation. “The

MoU will provide an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages. Indian Navy ships have been making regular port calls at Casablanca in recent years, and this agreement will further consolidate such ties,” the statement noted.

The trip underscores growing defence cooperation between New Delhi and Rabat, with Morocco emerging as a gateway for India’s defence exports to Africa.

India’s First Overseas Defence Facility

Rajnath Singh will unveil the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) plant at Berrechid, near Casablanca. The facility has been set up in collaboration with Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and will assemble the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8 — an amphibious infantry combat vehicle jointly developed by TASL and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Kingdom of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and Tata Advanced Systems sign deal for local production of Wheeled Armoured Platform.

Developed in collaboration with the DRDO and Tata Motors, this marks a significant milestone as we expand our footprint overseas as a Defence OEM.… pic.twitter.com/6YcXWTFR7S

— Tata Advanced Systems Limited (@tataadvanced) September 30, 2024

The eight-wheeled WhAP, capable of operating in multiple terrains, is already in limited service with the Indian Army, including deployments at the Ladakh border.

Morocco had signed an agreement with the Tata Group in September last year for the manufacture of the WhAP 8×8 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

“This facility is the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa, which marks an important milestone that reflects the growing global footprint of India’s defence industry under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

According to a September 2024 report in the Economic Times, the plant is expected to roll out around 100 combat vehicles annually. It will employ nearly 350 people, while a significant portion of the work will continue to be executed in India.

Strengthening India–Morocco Defence Ties

For India, Africa is a growing focus area for defence exports. Several government initiatives — from high-level visits to product showcases — reflect New Delhi’s intent to strengthen its foothold in the continent’s defence market.

Officials told The Hindu that Rajnath Singh’s visit signals a new phase in India–Africa defence engagement, particularly in the run-up to the India–Africa Forum Summit next year.

India and Morocco have steadily expanded their defence cooperation. Last year, Loudiyi, who also serves as Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Head of the Government, said Morocco wanted “to offer a state-of-the-art environment, zero bureaucracy, and profitability for Indian defence companies”. He highlighted Morocco’s potential as a gateway for Indian firms to Africa and Europe.

In 2023, Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces procured 92 six-wheel military trucks from Tata Advanced Systems. The country also signed a deal with the Tata Group for LPTA 2445 Defence Dump Trucks, designed for heavy-duty missions such as transporting construction material, water, and supplies across difficult terrains.

Since Morocco’s drive for military modernisation has seen it collaborate not only with India but also with defence suppliers such as the United States, Israel, and China, this initiative is now seen as a strategic move for New Delhi to expand its defence production for the African market, which is projected to witness strong growth in the coming years.

The Hindu dubbed the Casablanca facility a “strategic milestone” that strengthens India’s overseas manufacturing capacity while deepening its diplomatic and security presence in Africa.