Israel’s BlueBird to Establish Drone Manufacturing in Morocco
Israel and Morocco are expanding their defense cooperation with the opening of a new drone production facility by BlueBird Aero Systems in Morocco. Ronen Nadir, CEO of BlueBird Aero Systems, confirmed to the Spanish media Zona Militar on April 13, 2024, that the local production site, which has already been established, is expected to start operations soon.
This development marks the latest in a series of enhanced collaborations between the two nations following the resumption of diplomatic relations under the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020. Even before these agreements, Israel and Morocco maintained undisclosed special defense relations.
The Abraham Accords, signed in September 2020, are a series of agreements that normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. They aim to promote peace and economic cooperation in the Middle East by establishing open relationships and bilateral agreements in various areas such as trade, security, and technology.
In February of last year, Rabat and Tel Aviv concluded a $500 million deal to supply the kingdom with the Barak MX air and missile defense system manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). In 2021, Morocco also acquired the Skylock Dome anti-drone system from Israel, thereby enhancing its defensive capabilities with cutting-edge technology.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Israel is among the top three largest arms exporters to Morocco, accounting for 11% of the North African country’s arms imports. Morocco’s commitment to the defense industry is also evident in its allocation of $12.88 billion (approximately MAD 124.7 billion) to this sector this year, as part of the military cooperation agreement signed with Israel in 2021, which includes the development of Morocco’s military industry with Israeli expertise.
BlueBird Aero Systems is an Israeli company that specializes in the design, development, and production of unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones. BlueBird’s products encompass a wide range of drones designed for various intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Among its flagship products are the SpyLite, ThunderB, and WanderB, each tailored to specific operational environments and requirements. For example, the SpyLite is known for providing high-quality intelligence in challenging weather conditions, while the ThunderB can conduct extended missions thanks to its exceptional endurance.
In addition to drones, BlueBird also develops loitering munitions, such as the SpyX. The SpyX is a smart munition designed for precision strikes with an operational range of 50 km and a mission time of 1.5 hours. Equipped with a stabilized dual-sensor payload and an advanced video tracker, the SpyX enables autonomous and precise electro-optical guided attacks on targets. This system can be equipped with various payloads, tailored to the desired effect on the target, from anti-personnel to anti-vehicle or anti-tank warheads.