Royal Moroccan Air Force Receives Precision Weapons From EDGE
The Administration of National Defence has signed a contract with UAE group EDGE to arm Moroccan drones with precision munitions, along with a memorandum of understanding to manufacture them locally in Morocco.
Morocco's Administration of National Defence has signed a contract with UAE group EDGE to supply the Royal Air Force with precision-guided munitions to be integrated into the combat drone fleet, along with a memorandum of understanding to explore manufacturing them locally in Morocco. Both agreements were signed on 9 October on the sidelines of the Marrakech Air Show 2026, in the presence of the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the Administration of National Defence, Abdellatif Loudiyi, and Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and commander of the Southern Zone.
Details of the arms contract
The contract covers the supply of two guided systems: the "DESERT STING 16" (DS-16), a guided glide weapon weighing about 23 kilograms with a range of about 15 kilometres, relying on satellite-aided inertial navigation with an optional semi-active laser seeker; and the "THUNDER P-31", which converts a conventional "Mk-81" bomb into a precision-guided munition. The deal also includes drone modifications and the software needed to operate both munitions, as well as long-term support and maintenance services.
| System | Weight | Range |
|---|---|---|
| DESERT STING 16 (DS-16) | about 23 kg | about 15 km |
| THUNDER P-31 | not specified | 10 km from drones, 20 km from high-speed platforms |
A memorandum of understanding for local manufacturing
Alongside the supply contract, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to study local production opportunities in Morocco for high-performance small arms and aircraft engines, with the participation of the "CARACAL" unit, which specialises in small arms and ammunition, and "POWERTECH", which specialises in engines and propulsion systems for unmanned aircraft, in partnership with Moroccan companies not yet named in the agreement.
Beyond the deal
EDGE Group CEO Hamad Al Marar described Morocco as a "key partner" for the group in Africa, saying local manufacturing builds an industrial base that meets the Kingdom's defence needs through knowledge exchange and technology transfer. For his part, Saif Al Dahbashi, head of the group's missiles and weapons division, said the contract is designed around the performance the Royal Air Force's missions require. The deal comes as Morocco seeks to build a local defence industrial base, drawing on its established aerospace and automotive sectors as a foundation for this approach.