UAE-based EDGE Defence Company will supply Morocco precision weapons and help the Kingdom develop local production of small arms and aeronautical propulsion systems.
The announcement was made at the Marrakesh Air Show (Oct.o7-10) during the signing ceremony of the two deals sealed by EDGE with Morocco’s National Defense Administration.
Under the first deal, EDGE pledged to strengthen Morocco’s air power with precision weapons for its unmanned combat fleet. The precision weapons, which will be supplied to the Royal Moroccan Air Force, include DESERT STING 16 (DS-16) guided-glide weapon and THUNDER P-13 precision-guided munition.
Saif Al Dahbashi, President of Missiles & Weapons, EDGE, said: “This contract is built around delivering the performance that the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s missions demand.”
“We move at the speed our partners need, and every system we deliver is backed by assured supply and long-term sustainment. By putting mission-ready precision capabilities in the hands of the Royal Moroccan Air Force, we are establishing EDGE as a trusted partner to the Kingdom and laying the foundations for an enduring relationship”, he underlined.
DS-16 is a 23 kg guided-glide weapon with a range of up to 15 km, while THUNDER P-31 converts the MK 81 general-purpose munition into a precision-guided munition with a range of up to 10 km when released from unmanned aerial vehicles, and 20 km from high-speed, high-altitude platforms.
Both weapons combine GNSS-assisted inertial navigation with an optional semi-active laser seeker, and both are developed and manufactured in the UAE.
Under the second deal, Morocco and EDGE Group have agreed to identify local production opportunities for high-performance small arms and aeronautical engines in the Kingdom, through partnerships with Moroccan companies.
By working with qualified local companies, EDGE will bring production closer to its customers, strengthen supply chains and through-life support, and contribute to the growth of sovereign industrial ecosystems.
Hamad Al Marar said: “Morocco is a key partner for EDGE in Africa. Our model is built on knowledge exchange, local production, and technology transfer, creating mutually beneficial partnerships that grow national industry alongside our own.”
“By working with Moroccan companies to localize production of mission-proven firearms and advanced aeronautical engines, we are helping to build an industrial backbone that meets the Kingdom’s defense requirements”, he added.
CARACAL, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance small arms and small-caliber ammunition, and POWERTECH, which develops advanced aero engines and propulsion systems for unmanned and autonomous platforms, are part of EDGE’s defense manufacturing ecosystem in the UAE.
Built to deliver capability at speed and scale, that ecosystem is being extended to partner nations building their own sovereign defense industrial base.
