Rajnath inaugurates Tata’s military vehicle making plant in Morocco

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdelatif Loudyi on Tuesday jointly inaugurated Tata Advanced Systems Limited’s (TASL) state-of-the-art defence manufacturing facility in Berrechid, Morocco.

Singh described the occasion as “a historic moment”, saying it was not just the opening of a new plant, but “the beginning of a new chapter in friendship between India and Morocco”.

The facility will manufacture the ‘Wheeled Armoured Platform’ (WhAP), an indigenously developed 8x8 combat vehicle jointly designed by TASL and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Spread over 20,000 square metres, the plant will produce multiple WhAP variants for the Moroccan armed forces.

The WhAP is a modern, modular combat platform equipped with advanced mobility, protection and mission adaptability. It features a survivable hull with ballistic and mine protection and is powered by a high-performance engine to ensure superior off-road capability.

Configurations include infantry fighting vehicle, armoured personnel carrier, reconnaissance vehicle, command post, mortar carrier and even ambulance variants. Options for manned or unmanned remote weapon stations and anti-tank guided missile integration further enhance its versatility, the Ministry of Defence said.

Under its contract with the Government of Morocco, TASL will deliver WhAP 8x8 vehicles to the Royal Moroccan Army, with initial deliveries scheduled to begin next month. The facility became operational three months ahead of schedule, and production has already commenced. It is Morocco’s largest defence manufacturing unit and marks the first such plant set up by an Indian private company in Africa.

Singh said the project is expected to generate significant defence-related employment and foster a robust local ecosystem of engineers, technicians and suppliers. About one-third of the components and sub-systems will be sourced and assembled locally from the outset, with local value addition expected to rise to 50 per cent in the coming years. Dedicated partners are also engaged to provide critical subsystems and technologies, ensuring in-country product support.