Israel, Morocco 'to sign kamikaze drone deal': report

Israeli officials are is expected to visit Morocco soon to sign an agreement that would see the start of co-produced kamikaze drones as part of a speedy rapprochement between Rabat and the Israeli defence ministry, accordingto a report on Friday.

The agreement will allow Morocco to manufacture a domestic drone industry producing kamikaze drones, also known as “loitering munitions”, that self-destruct upon hitting a target. 

“After [the] new government formation in Morocco, it is expected that the Israeli defence minister will visit Rabat to ink a contract for the joint manufacture of defence equipment in Morocco,” Moroccan military and security affairs expert, Mohammad Shkeir, told Defense News. 

The contract would supply Morocco with defence equipment that would be used to “strengthen its military arsenal”, Shkeir said, “as well as armoured vehicles and tanks that can be used in any armed conflict that might break out with Algeria or paralyse any Polisario [Front] movements along the Western Sahara wall,” referring to the Saharan separatist group.

Morocco has been discussing plans to develop drones with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) since the beginning of this year according to the global intelligence publication, Intelligence Online. 

In July, Israel's National Cyber Directorate announced that its CEO, Yigal Unna, signed a cooperation agreement with Morocco that would enable the kingdom to purchase “knowledge and technology” from Israeli companies.

Morocco also received 13 Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drones in September: “It is natural for Morocco to procure Turkish drones after their proven battle efficacy in several theatres of operations, whether in Iraq or Syria,” Shkeir told Defense News. 

Morocco was one of four Arab states to agree last year to normalise ties with Israel, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.

The normalisation deals were slammed by Palestinian factions as a "betrayal" of the Palestinian cause.