Morocco is reportedly planning to use turrets made by Elbit Systems to equip its Indian-designed WhAP 8×8 armored personnel carriers, according to reporting from Le Desk.
The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) will upgrade the vehicles, manufactured in Morocco in partnership with India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), from their standard 30 mm cannon configuration to 105 mm and 120 mm gun systems supplied by the Israeli defense firm, le Desk said.
The WhAP 8×8 platforms, originally conceived as wheeled troop carriers, will be transformed into hybrid armored systems offering the mobility and the firepower of a light tank, it said.
The heavier-caliber turrets, similar to those deployed on Israeli Sabrah light tanks, are expected to enhance the FAR’s adaptability across Morocco’s varied terrain, from the Atlas mountains to the Sahara desert, it said.
Earlier this year, Rabat signed a $370 million contract for 36 ATMOS 2000 self-propelled artillery units, following technical issues with the French-made CAESAR howitzer previously acquired by the FAR.
According to SIPRI, Israel has rapidly become Morocco’s third-largest arms supplier, accounting for 11% of its military imports after the countries normalized diplomatic ties in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.
Morocco’s collaboration with both India and Israel forms part of a broader push to diversify its defense partnerships and modernize its warfare capabilities.
