The Joint Venture (JV) between Morocco, the Belgian group Blueberry and the American group Lockheed Martin has just given rise to the first private investment operation in the military industry sector in the era of the new legislative framework put in place for this purpose.
The will of Sabca and Sabena Aerospace, united within the Blueberry group since 2020to invest in the maintenance, repair and upgrade (MRO&U) of military aircraft was expressed since the year 2018through a memorandum of understanding.
At that time, the two companies mainly targeted the famous military transport aircraft C-130 Hercules which has been the subject of an authorization granted by Lockheed to Sabena to provide maintenance services since 1977. Nevertheless, they were already planning in a second phase to attack the F-16, Alphajet, Mirage F1 and Agusta A- 109.
A year later, a limited company called Sabena Aerospace was created by Sabena Aerospace Engineering. Immediately followingwards, it changed its name to become Maintenance Aero Morocco (MAM). Since then, it has remained inactive, except that in 2021 it changed leaders. Today its CEO and chairman of the board is Vincent Francis Daniel Monborgne, and director Gautier Hucorne.
Sabca, now part of the Blueberry group, is present for its part in Morocco since 2012 through its subsidiary Sabca Maroc which produces assemblies for Airbus and Dassault Aviation aircraft. It was also responsible for the modernization of the Mirage F1 and Alphajet fleets of the Royal Air Forces (FRA).
In August 2021, Sabca Maroc and Pilatus Aircraft signed contract so that the aerostructure of the business jet Pilatus PC-12 either mounted in Casablanca by Sabca Maroc. This is an investment of 180 million dirhams for the construction of a new 16,000 m2 factory in Nouaceur, which will ensure the assembly of the fuselage, wings and flight controls, including the electrical installation of the wiring of the ‘aircraft.
After the announcement this week of this tripartite joint venture, it is not yet clear to what extent the Moroccan state and/or Lockheed Martin will enter the capital of MAM. In any case, the management of this JV remains the responsibility of the Blueberry group.
A first following the entry into force of the new legislative framework relating to the defense industry
Contacted by Médias24, Abdelhamid Harifi, military expert, believes for his part that the investment will be carried by Morocco and Lockheed Martin, while the Belgians might only ensure the management without appearing in the capital for political causes.
Moreover, he counts the many advantages of this investment, which he considers to be the first of its kind under the new law which governs the defense industry in Morocco.
It is true that Sabca has already proceeded in 2006 to the local upgrade of the Moroccan Mirages F1 and Alphajet, but it was a temporary operation which takes place at the FRA in Meknes. On the other hand, this JV marks a desire to have a structure permanentewhich all the more involves private capital in the Moroccan military industry, he explains.
Thus, this maintenance center will be dedicated to F-16 and C-130 aircraft, as well as other helicopters of American origin, he says. Currently, their maintenance is done either locally with the FRA, or with the air forces of friendly countries.
On the other hand, this JV confirms that the process of modernizing the F-16s currently in service with the FRA will be done locally, as previously announced. It is sophisticated technologiesincluding the installation of new weapon systems, new electronic systems, and the modernization of motorization.
Indeed, the importance of such a partnership also lies in the aspect relating to the technology transfer which will allow Morocco to gradually build the foundations for a local defense industry. It is also an opportunity to strengthen human capital in this area through a transfer of skills.
Another interest in this investment is to maintain a high level of availability of Moroccan military aviation, because the bane of any air force is to have aircraft grounded or undergoing maintenance abroad. It is important for an air force to be able to mobilize its planes as quickly as possible.
Having this kind of installation in Morocco will certainly give Morocco more control over the mobilization capacity of its aircraft. Today, Morocco has regarding twenty C-130s, for their maintenance, they are scattered over several countries between Morocco, Jordan, France and Romania.
This new unit will also serve as maintenance hub in the regionin particular for the C-130s which are held by Tunisia and by several other African countries.
Abdelhamid Harifi also thinks that this evolution is part of the prerequisites for building a military industrial platform longer term. The latter will also benefit from the civil aeronautics and automotive ecosystems that Morocco has developed over the past two decades.