Morocco has signed a strategic agreement with French defense startup Harmattan AI to develop and locally produce autonomous defense systems, the company said, in a move aimed at strengthening the kingdom’s defense industrial base.
Harmattan AI described the deal with the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) as a “major strategic partnership” that provides for the deployment of autonomous air defense capabilities at scale starting in 2026.
The agreement includes the establishment of local production capacities for autonomous systems in Morocco, the creation of a research and development center dedicated to artificial intelligence applied to defense, and the development of partnerships with Moroccan higher education and research institutions.
“This partnership demonstrates our capacity to support sovereign nations in developing their defense industrial base,” Harmattan AI chief executive Mouad M’Ghari said, describing the agreement as the foundation of a long-term collaboration.
Founded in 2024, Harmattan AI has rapidly expanded in the defense technology sector. The company, backed by Dassault Aviation, recently raised $200 million in funding, reaching a valuation of $1.4 billion, and has previously secured contracts in Europe, including with the French and British defense sectors.
According to the company, the Morocco agreement would mark its first announced industrial deployment outside its existing markets, alongside its presence in countries including France, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The agreement comes as Morocco continues to develop a national framework for defense manufacturing. A law adopted in 2020 and implemented in 2021 established regulations governing the production, import and export of defense equipment, while industrial zones dedicated to the sector have been approved as part of a broader strategy to attract investment and build local capabilities.