Morocco will increase its 2025 defense budget to 133 billion dirhams ($13 billion) to strengthen its army, diversify partners for acquisitions, and boost its local industry.
The North African country has been steadily increasing its military spending, rising from 124 billion dirhams ($12 billion) in 2024 and 119 billion dirhams ($11.4 billion) the previous year.
Rabat aims to adopt a comprehensive strategy to modernize its military, focusing on equipping the Royal Armed Forces with drones, fighter jets, and air defense systems.
While investing to bolster national military production, Morocco remains a major importer, sourcing weapons from the US, Israel, Europe, India, China, and Turkey.
In 2023, Morocco became the first African country to provide military equipment to Ukraine, supplying 20 T-72B tanks.
Boosting Local Capacity
In June, the kingdom announced the establishment of two industrial defense acceleration zones, which will soon host industries working to enhance defense and security equipment, weapons, and ammunition systems.
Recently, the Moroccan Aerodrive Engineering Services announced the successful test of the country’s first locally produced drone technology, the Atlas Istar.
The unmanned aerial vehicle is “capable of providing real-time intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance in critical missions,” stated the company.