As part of his first official visit to Morocco, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday inaugurated a Tata Advanced Systems facility in Berrechid to produce the WhAP 8×8 armored combat vehicle, describing the launch as “an important milestone that reflects India’s growing role in global defense cooperation.”
The factory, covering 20,000 square feet, marks India’s first major defense manufacturing site on African soil and is designed to supply Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces while opening export opportunities to regional markets.
For Rabat, the project represents a concrete step toward building a defense-industrial base rather than depending solely on foreign procurement.
Singh said the plant illustrates New Delhi’s wider approach of blending national self-reliance with international partnerships. “In addition to promoting the ‘Made in India’ label, we also work to promote joint manufacturing with friendly countries by cooperating with partners to develop and produce advanced technologies under the ‘Made in the World’ label, sharing the benefits of our innovations with the entire world,” he told the ceremony, according to the Asian International News Agency.
“The Berrechid Industrial Facility is an excellent example of this vision,” Singh added.
“This facility demonstrates that Indian industries are not only capable of meeting local needs, but are also prepared to enhance the defense capabilities of friendly nations through a partnership that is a model that respects sovereignty, enhances local capabilities, and also contributes to promoting global peace.”
The armored platform at the center of the venture, jointly developed by Tata and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) , combines mobility, protection and firepower in an 8×8 wheeled design suited for troop transport and reconnaissance. Singh said about one-third of the components will be sourced or assembled in Morocco from the outset, with a goal of reaching 50 percent in the coming years.
“This is not just a commercial deal involving export or import, but a true partnership that builds capacity within Morocco and lays a solid foundation for shared development,” he noted.
Morocco has positioned the project as part of a broader industrial policy that has already made it a hub in automotive and aerospace supply chains.
The government has promoted defense manufacturing as a new pillar, both to diversify suppliers and to develop local expertise. Singh emphasized that the benefits would extend beyond defense. “The economic benefits of this cooperation are no less significant than the technological benefits,” he said.
“This facility will create numerous direct and indirect jobs, providing opportunities for Moroccan engineers, technicians, and skilled workers. It will also contribute to the development of the supply chain and local small businesses, foster innovation, and generate a wave of development in the Casablanca region and surrounding areas.”
The Indian minister framed the project in strategic as well as industrial terms. “This industrial unit is a bridge between this region and the global market, as Morocco has long been viewed as a gateway to Africa and a natural link between Europe, the Middle East, and the Atlantic Ocean,” he said. “On the other hand, India has emerged today as a rising incubator for innovation and a reliable partner for the Global South, so this facility will be beneficial to both countries.”
The plant is expected to employ about 90 people directly and another 250 indirectly, while anchoring local supply-chain development. By hosting India’s first African defense factory, Rabat is also signaling to Europe, the United States and regional neighbors that it intends to be an industrial player in its own right.
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