Morocco is reportedly preparing to receive an undisclosed number of Turkish-manufactured Bayraktar Akinci drones.
Delivery of the advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will start in February next year, local media reported.
The initiative comes after the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces signed a 626 million dirhams ($70 million) contract in 2021 to acquire 13 Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, including remote control ground stations and configurable simulation systems.
Features
The Bayraktar Akinci, developed by the Turkish firm Baykar, is designed as a more advanced aircraft compared to the Bayraktar TB2.
It features a wingspan of 20 meters (65.6 feet), a length of 12.3 meters (40.4 feet), and a height of 4.1 meters (13.5 feet).
The UAV has a maximum take-off weight of 6,000 kilograms (13,228 pounds) and can carry a payload of up to 1,500 kilograms (3,306 pounds).
Powered by dual turboprop engines, it can reach cruising speeds of 277 kilometers (172 miles) per hour and a maximum speed of 361 kilometers (224 miles) per hour.
Equipped with a dual satellite communication system, it can perform air-to-ground and air-to-air attack missions while remaining airborne for over 24 hours.
Upcoming Moroccan Drones
In tandem with acquiring foreign-made drones, Rabat is advancing its capabilities to develop locally manufactured drones.
Earlier this month, Portuguese unmanned aerial systems provider Tekever partnered with local firm Droneway to accelerate the UAV industry in Morocco.
The agreement includes comprehensive training, assembly, and operational logistics support services.
In October, Moroccan Aerodrive Engineering Services announced the successful test of the Atlas Istar, the kingdom’s first domestically designed drone.
Also in October, the North African country outlined plans to increase next year’s defense budget to 133 billion dirhams ($13 billion) to bolster its army capabilities and foster local production industries.