US opens military testing range in Morocco to private companies developing missiles, drones and other weapons

Morocco is taking on a new role in the global defence industry after the US Army opened a military testing range in the country to private companies developing missiles, drones and other weapons.

• Morocco is now home to the only international US Army weapons testing range open to private defence companies under a new initiative.
• The initiative aims to speed up weapons development by reducing the time companies wait for access to testing facilities, with Morocco's Multidomain Training Area as a key site.
• Recent successful tests, such as the US-based Covenant Industries' Anthem missile, highlight Morocco's emergence as a launchpad for new defence technologies.
• A planned Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Centre in Tan-Tan will include a Multidomain Training Area, Drone Academy, and Innovation Centre, expected by 2030.

The move makes Morocco the only international location among five ranges now available to defence companies under a new US Army initiative designed to speed up weapons development and reduce lengthy testing delays.

The initiative was announced by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who said companies have historically waited 12 to 18 months to secure access to major US testing facilities.

The Army now wants promising companies to gain access to a suitable range within 30 days of submitting a request.

Morocco's Multidomain Training Area is the international range included in the programme. It is located in the southwestern part of the country and forms part of a broader US-Moroccan effort to build a new defence experimentation ecosystem.

DON'T MISS THIS: Obama called Libya his ‘worst mistake’ — 15 years later, North Africa’s military powers have spent over $320 billion arming themselves

Morocco becomes a testing ground for new weapons

The significance of the Moroccan facility was demonstrated last week when Covenant Industries, a US defence start-up, successfully tested its Anthem missile at the range.

The test was the first live-fire demonstration linked to the emerging Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Centre, according to US officials.

Covenant's Anthem is a long-range cruise missile designed for military applications. The company said it is preparing to begin delivering production-ready systems from 2027.

The test shows how Morocco could become a practical launchpad for defence companies seeking to develop and demonstrate new weapons without waiting months for access to US facilities.

For Morocco, the opportunity goes beyond hosting military exercises. The country is positioning itself as a place where defence companies can test technology, experiment with new systems and potentially develop products for African and international markets.

DON'T MISS: World’s top 10 most powerful defence pacts reshaping global power in 2026

A new US-Morocco defence hub

The testing initiative comes only weeks after Morocco and US Africa Command signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Centre in Tan-Tan.

The planned centre will bring together three components: a Multidomain Training Area, a Drone Academy and an Innovation and Experimentation Centre. AFRICOM said the facility is expected to be established by 2030.

The broader goal is to give American and Moroccan forces a platform to train, experiment with emerging technologies and develop new military capabilities.

That could make Morocco increasingly important to the US defence strategy in Africa at a time when Washington is placing greater emphasis on helping African partners build their own military capabilities.

Morocco's defence industry gets a bigger role

The arrangement also fits into Morocco's broader push to develop a domestic defence industry.

Morocco has spent years strengthening its military relationship with the US and other Western defence powers while seeking to attract defence manufacturers and technology companies.

The new experimentation centre could provide another layer to that strategy. Instead of simply purchasing weapons from foreign manufacturers, Morocco could increasingly participate in the testing, development and adaptation of military technologies.

The centre is also expected to include a Drone Academy, reflecting the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern warfare. That is particularly relevant to Africa, where drones have become increasingly important in counterterrorism, border surveillance and battlefield operations.

From military exercises to defence innovation

Morocco has already established itself as an important military partner for the US through exercises such as African Lion, one of the largest multinational military exercises on the continent.

US officials have also said they hope the initiative eventually expands beyond American companies to include defence firms and allied countries.