Morocco to Produce Drones Locally

According to a report by Reference News on October 10, the Spanish newspaper "The Independent" reported on October 8 that on the 7th, the 2026 Marrakech Airshow officially opened, which will last until October 10. The Moroccan Armed Forces showcased their military capabilities at the exhibition, but the most noteworthy news on the first day of the event was that Morocco will produce long-range drones domestically.

According to local media reports, under relevant agreements, Morocco will establish a factory in the country to produce the IRIFI long-range attack drone.

Morocco has signed a contract with the French company Almatron AI, officially entering the ranks of countries producing long-range loitering munitions (suicide drones) with the IRIFI drone project. This drone is equipped with an artificial intelligence system and features communication jamming and disruption devices, combining characteristics of Iran's low-cost "Shahed"-136 drone and the expensive, high-precision U.S. "Tomahawk" cruise missile. Mohaed Mghari, co-founder and CEO of Almatron AI, stated, "It combines the advantages of both major equipment systems."

According to Moroccan defense media, this drone is expected to enter mass production soon, "which will allow Morocco to establish a strategic reserve of this model while opening the door for exporting this drone to allied countries."

The IRIFI drone has a range of up to 2000 kilometers, capable of covering the entire European continent when launched from Morocco's northern coast. According to reported images, when launched from the Moroccan capital Rabat, the drone can cover the entire Iberian Peninsula, Algeria, and Western Sahara. The drone is powered by an internal combustion engine, and the official payload data has not yet been released. The prototype can be deployed by a mobile launch system, making it suitable for rapid large-scale deployment.

This drone, which is based on French technology and assembled in Morocco, is designed for attrition warfare scenarios. The developing company stated that this equipment can achieve "coordinated saturation strikes, with a scale that traditional missile systems cannot reach." The company emphasizes the drone's autonomous combat capability in complex conflict environments, as many drones lose combat capability once remote communication is interrupted.

The design goal of this new drone that Morocco is about to produce is to execute the entire mission autonomously, without human intervention during the flight phase. Military tasks are pre-set by operators, and target information, launch points, and mission parameters must be reviewed and confirmed by the military command. Once final authorization is obtained, the IRIFI drone initiates autonomous flight, requiring no further human operation.

The complete artificial intelligence system equipped on this drone includes a multi-source navigation system, built-in sensors, and a data processing unit, capable of ensuring mission continuation in the event of communication or satellite navigation interference, thereby reducing the drone's dependence on a continuous communication link with command agencies. (Translated by Han Chao)