Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) is showing its WhAP 8×8 armored vehicle at the eighth Marrakech Air Show, held October 7-10. The vehicle is built at the company’s factory in Berrechid, which TASL wants to make a base for selling defense equipment abroad, especially in Africa. The group also displays its LAMV 4×4, ATAGS 155mm gun and drones.
The 20,000-square-metre Berrechid plant was opened on 23 September 2025 by India’s defense minister, Rajnath Singh, and Abdellatif Loudiyi, Morocco’s minister in charge of defense administration. TASL says production began three months ahead of schedule, with about one-third of components made or assembled locally, the target being to reach 50%. The first fleet was delivered to the Royal Moroccan Army in December 2025 under a 150-vehicle program spread over three years, while TASL plans to build about 400 vehicles at the site.
The WhAP, developed with India’s Defense Research and Development Organization, is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle weighing 25 to 26 tons. Its 600-horsepower engine gives a road speed of 100km/h and a road range of about 500km. Protection can reach STANAG 4569 levels III and IV, and the Moroccan version uses an Elbit UT30MK2 remotely operated turret.
TASL is also exhibiting the ATAGS towed howitzer, which can hit targets more than 40km away. India signed contracts worth 69bn rupees, around 7.8bn dirhams, in March 2025 for 307 guns. The LAMV weighs about eight tons, while the Sky-I drone can fly for up to two hours.
TASL says its Moroccan operations will “serve as a defense equipment sourcing hub for the region” and fit its “Make for the World” strategy to raise Indian defense exports.
Nearly 200 companies from 27 countries are taking part in the Marrakech Air Show.