Che partnership aims to promote the international development of the Belgian group, while supporting the sustainment needs of the Moroccan Air Force and bringing high-tech jobs and significant technical skills to the country, announces the Blueberry group in a press release.
This is the first achievement within the framework of the law aimed at enabling Morocco to develop a military-industrial and defense activity, while deriving strategic and economic benefits.
Military aircraft maintenance
The partnership includes the construction of a 15,000 m² center for the maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) of military aircraft and helicopters at Benslimane airport, while supporting the creation of 300 jobs .
“We are extremely proud to begin this new partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco and Lockheed Martin. We are also very pleased to see MAM joining our international MRO&U solutions network, bringing opportunities to develop new expertise on other platforms.” said Stéphane Burton, CEO of the Blueberry group, in the press release.
Danya Trent, vice-president of the Lockhead Martin group, indicated that “This important cooperation is the result of several years of evaluation and discussions that will ensure that Morocco receives the best industrial facilities, equipment, training and certification to meet the sustainment requirements of the Royal Air Force. Moroccan and other international customers”.
As a reminder, the Blueberry group has been operating in Morocco since 2012 through its subsidiary Sabca Maroc, which recently announced an investment of more than 180 million dirhams (17 million euros) in the construction of a new 16,000 m² site which will will host the Pilatus, Airbus and Dassault aerostructure assembly line in the Nouaceur area.
It also participated, in cooperation with the Moroccan Air Force, in the modernization of its Dassault Mirage F1 and Alphajet.