Defense Minister Gantz to visit Morocco

• Published date: 03 October 2021
• Author: ANNA AHRONHEIM
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

According to foreign reports, Gantz will sign defense cooperation deals including plans to develop a domestic industry to produce loitering munitions.

The magazine Defense News and French publication Africa Intelligence reported that the two countries are currently working on the development of a project to manufacture the drones to strengthen Morocco's air power.

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The online report by Africa Intelligence said that defense giant Israel Aerospace Industries' subsidiary BlueBird Aero Systems Ltd. has been negotiating with Moroccan teams for several months about developing a business incubator to manufacture such drones.

Rabat, the report said, became interested in the use of loitering munitions after IAI "highlighted" in a sales pitch the extensive use of the company's Harop suicide drones by Azerbaijan during the two-month war with Armenia last year.

The Harop is a small drone that according to the company's website, is a combination of the "capabilities of a UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] and a lethal missile."

Small enough to bypass enemy aircraft detection systems, the Harop – with an onboard explosive of 23 kg. – searches, identifies and loiters above targets before attacking and destroying them. If a target is not engaged, the drone will return and land itself back at base.

Measuring 2 m. in length with a wingspan of 3 m., it consists of the munition units, transportable launchers, and a mission control shelter where the operator can approve or abort attacks.

It can be launched from various platforms at sea or on land and at any angle, both vertically or horizontally. The launcher also has a fueling system to allow for the drone to be ready at all times.

Israel is considered a leading exporter of drones, and IAI has over 50 operational customers around the globe including Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Singapore and South Korea.

Israel and Morocco have had close economic, diplomatic, and military ties for years, and the two countries...