New Delhi

In a significant boost for India-Morocco defence and economic ties, the Indian-origin Wheeled Armoured Platform 8x8 will undergo final assembly and integration at an Indian factory in Casablanca, Morocco. This is the result of a strategic partnership between The Kingdom of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and the Indian firm Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). Morocco is learnt to have placed orders for 150 WhAP vehicles. Interestingly, despite WhAP being Indian-origin, it has been procured in very low numbers domestically. For lesser-known reasons, the Indian Government is keen to procure the US-origin Stryker vehicle made by General Dynamics Land Systems, despite the Modi Government's emphasis on indigenous development and "Atmanirtbharta"(self-reliance).

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Dubbed as India's first amphibious infantry combat vehicle on wheels, the WhAP is jointly developed by Tata Advanced Systems and Tata Motors with Defence Research Development Organization(DRDO). This armoured vehicle stands as a successful example of Indian private sector and government partnership. Simply put, it is a light armoured all-terrain vehicle that can safely ferry troops in and out of combat zones. The vehicle's armour can handle incoming fire from small arms, and can return fire from its mounted gun. Such vehicles can be deployed to perform various roles including medical evacuation, surveillance, troop transport etc. 

Expected to be operational in a year, the upcoming Tata facility in Morocco would be the North African country's first large defence manufacturing plant, and the first overseas defence manufacturing plant by an Indian defence Original Equipment Manufacturer. Given that the Moroccan facility would be performing assembly and integration, significant content of the vehicle would be exported from India. However, the plant in Morocco will provide local employment, value addition and support. 

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"This partnership with Tata Advanced Systems marks a new era in the development of our defence industry. It is a strategic step that will not only contribute to our national self-reliance but also our ability to scale up our defence industry quickly and reliably," said  Abdeltif Loudyi, Honourable Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the Administration National Defence. 

Significant content of the TASL platform 8x8 will be exported from India, while also meeting a commitment for local employment, value addition and support in Morocco. The production facility in Casablanca covering 20,000 sqm has been identified. While the initial contracted quantity is entirely to meet the needs of Royal Moroccan Army, this facility will be a 100% subsidiary of Tata Advanced Systems, and become an export hub to meet the requirements of other countries in Africa.

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"This contract is of significant size and of strategic importance for us. This not only enables TASL to help initiate Morocco’s defence ecosystem but also acts as a launch point for TASL into rest of Africa for select defence systems," said Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD, TASL.

Tata Advanced Systems is to closely work with the Moroccan government to engage with the local supply chain partners and vendors, offer training and skill development to the workforce, help maintain the armoured vehicles in-country. Gradually, the firm is also expected to increase local sourcing of components.