Major global defense and aerospace companies including MBDA, Leonardo, Bell, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries are set to attend the Marrakech Air Show 2026, highlighting the growing defense profile of the Moroccan event.
The seventh edition of the show is scheduled for Oct. 7-10 and will bring together international companies from the aerospace, defense and space industries.
Israel Aerospace Industries, or IAI, has provided details of several systems it plans to showcase at the event, including its LORA long-range precision strike system, Heron MK II unmanned aircraft and OPAL collaborative combat architecture.
IAI describes LORA as a long-range precision strike system. Information published in connection with the event puts its range at between 90 and 430 kilometers.
The company also plans to showcase the Heron MK II, a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft designed for missions including intelligence, surveillance and data collection.
IAI will also present OPAL, an architecture designed to connect different platforms and facilitate data sharing in collaborative combat environments.
The company said its Marrakech portfolio will also include air defense and space technologies, including satellite communications systems.
Beyond showcasing equipment, IAI said it is seeking opportunities for local cooperation, industrial partnerships, knowledge sharing and technology transfers with partners in Morocco and the wider region.
Major defense companies
European missile manufacturer MBDA is also among the exhibitors confirmed for the 2026 show.
The company develops missile systems and other complex weapons, including air-to-air, surface-to-air, anti-tank and anti-ship missiles, as well as air defense systems. MBDA has listed the Marrakech Airshow on its 2026 events calendar.
The company has not, however, publicly identified specific missile systems that it plans to display in Marrakech. Details about particular models should therefore not be attributed to the event without further confirmation.
Italian defense and aerospace group Leonardo is also scheduled to participate. Its military portfolio includes helicopters, radars, electronic systems and other technologies for armed forces, although specific equipment planned for display in Marrakech has not yet been publicly detailed.
Bell Flight, known for its military helicopters, is another confirmed exhibitor. No official announcement has yet identified a specific military helicopter that will be displayed at the show.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, a leading U.S. developer of military unmanned aircraft, will also attend. The company is best known for its Predator and Reaper families of remotely piloted aircraft.
Broader defense ecosystem
The defense presence at the show extends beyond missile, drone and helicopter manufacturers.
L3Harris Technologies, listed as a Platinum Sponsor, develops military communications, sensors, intelligence, electronic warfare and mission systems.
India’s Tata Advanced Systems is also associated with the 2026 edition. The company develops aerospace and defense platforms, systems and other technologies for the security and military sectors.
Indian defense company MKU is expected to add another segment to the exhibition, with products focused on ballistic protection, armor, protective equipment and counter-drone technologies.
French aerospace group Safran is also among the exhibitors. Its Safran Electronics & Defense division develops military technologies including optronics, navigation and defense electronics.
The companies announced so far represent several segments of the defense industry, ranging from precision-strike systems and drones to military helicopters, missiles, radars, electronic warfare, defense electronics and ballistic protection.
The 2024 Marrakech Air Show brought together major aerospace and defense companies including Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Safran, Thales, Embraer, CATIC and Tata Advanced Systems. The event attracted 194 exhibitors and nearly 30,000 visitors.
The 2026 edition is expected to broaden that industrial profile further, with the participation of major companies specializing in missiles, unmanned systems and defense technologies.
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