Tan-Tan: US Army to Test 15 Anti-Drone Systems in Morocco
The US Army plans to test 15 anti-drone systems at Tan-Tan, Morocco, ahead of their deployment during the African Lion 2027 exercises.
The US Army plans to test 15 technological systems for detecting and intercepting drones at Tan-Tan in southern Morocco, as part of a program aimed at developing counter-drone equipment and delivering it to field units within just 180 days. The US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), coordinating with the Directorate for Tactical Acquisition (G-TEAD), announced on Friday, 16 October 2026, that the first phase of trials will begin at Tan-Tan in February and March 2027, followed by an operational evaluation phase for selected systems in April and May 2027, alongside the African Lion 2027 exercises.
Which systems will be tested?
According to the US statement, the 15 systems fall into four main categories: drone detection systems, interception and neutralization means, passive protection systems for military facilities, and integrated defense solutions combining these functions. The stated goal is to strengthen the protection of command centers and military sites against the threats posed by drones, which in recent years have become an increasingly widespread weapon in modern conflicts, from Ukraine to the Sahel.
Why Tan-Tan?
US officials justified the choice of Tan-Tan, according to the statement, by the region's wide airspace, varied terrain and favorable climate conditions for testing the new systems, compared with training grounds in the United States and Europe. The trials reflect a US push to speed up the development of military technology, a trend reinforced by recent drone warfare, in an effort to shorten the gap between developing a technology and getting it to soldiers in the field.
An ongoing defense partnership with Morocco
The program is part of the defense partnership between Rabat and Washington, which takes shape every year through the African Lion exercises, the largest US-led military exercise on the African continent, with Morocco hosting its main activities for several years with the participation of thousands of troops from dozens of African and European countries. The partnership accompanies an ongoing modernization drive within the Royal Moroccan Air Force, which recently acquired precision weapons from the UAE's EDGE company. The US statement has not yet specified which equipment will ultimately be selected, as that will depend on the results of the field trials planned for early 2027, while no separate official reaction from Moroccan authorities has been reported so far.