Tan-Tan to Test 15 US Anti-Drone Technologies in 2027

Tan-Tan, in Morocco's far south, is set to host a US military programme to test and evaluate advanced counter-drone technology solutions during 2027, according to Alyaoum24.

The US Army announced that its Southern European Task Force-Africa (SETAF-AF) has partnered with the Global Tactical Advanced Technology Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) to test emerging military technologies on the African continent and speed up the transfer of proven solutions into operational use.

Testing phases: from February to May 2027

The first phase of testing will take place in Tan-Tan in February and March 2027, through field demonstrations led by US military units. The operation will then move to an operational evaluation phase in April and May 2027, coinciding with the African Lion 2027 exercise. The initiative aims to transfer solutions that prove effective to US Army units within no more than 180 days.

15 technological solutions across five defense areas

The trials will cover the evaluation of up to 15 technological solutions spread across five main areas:

• Detecting small drones
• Intercepting and neutralizing them with kinetic means
• Disabling them with non-kinetic means
• Passive protection technologies
• An integrated command, control and coordination system for defensive operations

Why Tan-Tan?

The US Army justifies choosing the African environment, including Tan-Tan, by its less congested airspace, a more open electromagnetic spectrum, and varied terrain — conditions that are hard to replicate at some training grounds in the United States and Europe. The choice comes within the framework of existing military cooperation between Morocco and the United States, of which the African Lion exercise is one of the most prominent expressions, alongside cooperation in training, innovation and military technology.

Tan-Tan is no stranger to African Lion

Tan-Tan is not new to this kind of military cooperation: in May 2026, the Cap Draa area of Tan-Tan hosted a welcome ceremony for senior American and Moroccan officials as part of the African Lion 26 exercise, led by the same US command (SETAF-AF) from April 20 to May 8, 2026, and hosted alongside Morocco by Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, according to the US military's own site DVIDS. US Ambassador to Rabat Duke Buchan III described the exercise, in a statement published by the same site, as reflecting the continued bilateral commitment to regional security and stability.

A permanent deployment of US forces?

The US Army clarifies that the programme, according to official information published so far, is not an announcement of a permanent deployment of US defense systems in Morocco, but rather an initiative to test and evaluate counter-drone technologies, with trial results subject to military evaluation before any decision to adopt or expand the use of suitable solutions.