SOURCE: AFI
India’s Tata Motors has signed a significant agreement with the Moroccan government to establish a factory for the production of military equipment. This factory will primarily focus on manufacturing the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WHAP) 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), which will be used to equip the Moroccan Land Forces.
This marks a major expansion of Tata’s presence in the African defense market. Last year, the Royal Moroccan Army received 90 units of 6×6 trucks from India, manufactured by Tata. The new factory, to be located in Casablanca, will be India’s first overseas defense manufacturing plant.
The factory is expected to be operational within a year and will have the capacity to produce 100 combat vehicles annually. The first WhAPs are projected to roll out within 18 months. These vehicles have already seen service with the Indian Army and have been deployed at the Ladakh border.
The WhAP was jointly developed by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It underwent rigorous testing in African deserts before being selected by Morocco. While the exact value of the contract remains undisclosed, the factory is expected to create around 350 jobs.
This development signifies Tata’s entry into the growing African defense market. With the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary, TASL Morocco, the company aims to capitalize on the region’s increasing demand for military equipment.