Marrakech Airshow showcases building blocks of Israel-Morocco defense ties - analysis

The recent Marrakech Airshow showed that Israel and Morocco are moving toward closer defense ties. Israel’s Defense Ministry said last week that Israel has opened a national pavilion at the show and that the ministry had led an Israeli delegation to Morocco to participate.

“This marks Israel's first official participation in the defense exhibition held in Morocco since the signing of the Abraham Accords, and the first time the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) has opened an Israeli national pavilion and headed a delegation of Israeli defense industries at the show,” the ministry said.

Eight Israeli companies came with the delegation, including ASIO Technologies, Orbit Communication Systems, SHILAT Optronics, UVision Air, and XTEND Systems. Israel’s big three defense giants, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, were also present.

This was an important opportunity for Israel’s large companies as well as the smaller and midsize ones to showcase various systems. The ministry highlighted “advanced, combat-proven technologies at the show, including loitering munitions, AI-powered robotic systems, autonomous navigation capabilities for UAVs, laser guidance for FPV drones, satellite communications, and more.”

The ministry is seeking greater defense cooperation with countries abroad. This includes numerous Israeli companies taking part in AUSA this week.

It also includes the recent major Israeli defense deal with Greece for Achilles Shield. In that deal, valued at around €3 billion, Israel will help Greece build a multi-layered air defense array based on Israeli systems. These systems include David’s Sling and Spyder, made by Rafael, as well as the Barak system, made by IAI.

As such, a trend is clear. Israeli ties with Morocco are not just about Morocco but part of a larger story of Israeli ties with Greece and the US. Morocco is seeking to acquire several Israeli defense systems, and reports indicate it has already acquired several. For instance, we reported in January 2026 that Morocco had deployed IAI’s Barak air defense system.

The Economist also reported last year that Morocco was producing drones in cooperation with an Israeli company. “Morocco is Africa’s new military tech hub,” an op-ed at The Jerusalem Post said in April.

Israeli-Moroccan friendship goes back years

The building blocks of Israel-Morocco relations include a friendship going back years. Morocco is part of the Abraham Accords. A small number of Israeli troops joined a US-backed exercise called Africa Lion in Morocco in 2025. Calcalist reported on October 12 that “Moroccan Military Industry (MMI) will begin delivering armored vehicle turrets to the Moroccan army in March 2027, the company's general manager said on the sidelines of the Marrakech Air Show.”

The report added that “sources at the air show and earlier media reporting have said MMI is closely linked to Israel's Elbit Systems and uses its technology. MMI itself told Reuters it is a Moroccan defense company, a characterization that leaves the precise nature of the relationship with Elbit unaddressed on the record.” A separate report at Calcalist also said that Morocco was interested in IAI’s Lora missile.

The Lora missile has been around for years. Back in 2020, IAI said that a “complex trial included two scenarios to test and demonstrate LORA’s advanced capabilities. The first scenario involved a short-range launch to 90 km and the second to a long range of 400 km.” The German Navy completed a successful dual operational firing trial with IAI's Naval Lora ballistic missile, IAI said in September.

On October 12, Morocco World News also noted: “Morocco and Israel are holding advanced talks over the possible integration of the Israeli David’s Sling air defense system into the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, according to the German defense publication Europäische Sicherheit & Technik (ES&T).”

Several reports from the Marrakech show highlighted Morocco's search for more advanced defense equipment. For instance, Le360 reported that Morocco’s MMI unveiled a system called Spear, an “autonomous mortar system designed for light combat vehicles.”

The same site highlighted Israel’s pavilion at the air show. Le360 also noted that an Israeli officer “held a one-on-one meeting with the commander of the Royal Air Force. The two officials discussed strengthening strategic ties and continuing cooperation between the two air forces, according to reports.” The goal of these reports is to illustrate growing Israel-Morocco cooperation.

Morocco has been welcoming of Israel cooperation

The air show was a key part of publicly showcasing Israel-Morocco cooperation. At a time when Israel has sometimes faced challenges abroad and controversy, Morocco has been welcoming. It has been more welcoming than France, for instance. Morocco’s drive to increase its capabilities, especially in air defenses and precision fire, is important. It would knit Morocco into a regional defense architecture that brings together countries with advanced systems. These could include Israeli systems that are being sold in Europe, such as to Greece.

As such, one could imagine a link between Morocco, Greece, Israel, and other countries that share various advanced systems. This would also position Morocco as an advanced, capable military power at the head of the Mediterranean. This matters because Morocco and Algeria are rivals, and Algeria is hostile to Israel. A recent UAE-Algeria diplomatic crisis also adds to the complexity. Libya, divided by civil war, also plays a role.

With so much at stake in today's regional shifts from the Horn of Africa to the Sahel, Morocco-Israel ties likely matter more than ever. The recent air show symbolized these ties and showcased practical military technology.