Israeli firm to inaugurate first large-scale suicide drone facility in North Africa

Israel Aerospace Industries unit Blue Bird Aero Systems is preparing to inaugurate the first large-scale suicide drone production facility in Morocco, marking a significant step in the region’s emerging defense manufacturing space.

Suicide drones, also known as loitering munitions or kamikaze drones, carry a warhead, roam above an area until a target is identified, and then strike by crashing into it. Their missions can be redirected or aborted in flight, and they range from small backpack-launched systems to larger long-range platforms.

The facility, located in Benslimane on the outskirts of Casablanca, will assemble SpyX loitering munitions, drones capable of carrying out precision strikes against armored vehicles, military bases, and other high-value targets.

While other African nations have begun developing suicide drone capabilities – Sudan unveiled the Kamin‑25 FPV kamikaze drone in 2023, and Ethiopia inaugurated SkyWin Aeronautics in 2025 for general UAV production, Morocco’s plant stands out as the first formalized, large-scale facility dedicated to this type of Israeli-designed system.

Each drone carries a 2.5-kilogram warhead, can reach speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, and operate autonomously for up to 90 minutes.

Moroccan engineers will be trained in assembly, maintenance, and testing, creating a domestic skill base for future defense projects.

The Casablanca facility signals North Africa’s growing role in defense and aviation manufacturing, an area previously dominated by European and Asian producers.

Morocco has significantly increased its defense investments under King Mohammed VI, with the 2026 budget reaching a historic high of $15.7 billion.

This surge is part of a broader effort to modernize the armed forces, which has included the procurement of advanced US Abrams tanks, Atmos howitzers, Barak 8 air defense systems, and “Extra” guided rockets.

Morocco’s normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020 has also facilitated closer defense cooperation, with Israel already accounting for 11% of Morocco’s defense imports between 2019 and 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Morocco’s investment in drone production and other high-tech weaponry demonstrates the potential for the region to become a center for military innovation.

By developing local assembly lines, training skilled engineers, and integrating imported systems, North Africa could reduce dependence on external suppliers while boosting industrial capabilities.

As Morocco positions itself at the forefront of North African defense manufacturing, the SpyX facility could serve as a regional hub for drone technology, with potential export opportunities across Africa and the Middle East. The inauguration of this facility marks a significant step toward advanced defense industrialization in the region.