On the eve of the opening, the Israeli outlet CTech published the manufacturer’s program for the Royal Moroccan Air Force base in Marrakech. Elbit will bring together reconnaissance, strike and protection capabilities, along with communication tools and pilot training systems. We reviewed the announcement to understand what it says about the Israeli presence in Morocco, and what it leaves unsaid.
- Elbit is taking part in the Marrakech Air Show for the first time, from October 7 to 10.
- The group will present drones, sensors, loitering munitions and the PULS rocket launcher.
- It will also showcase the MINI MUSIC, which protects aircraft and helicopters against heat-seeking missiles.
- The PULS is already known in Morocco, where trials had been reported in March 2025.
A stand built around the “see, decide, strike” chain
The logic of the offering is clear. Elbit is not bringing an isolated product, but a coherent set of systems covering target detection, designation and engagement.
The Hermes 900 is among the main aircraft on display. This drone is designed for intelligence and surveillance missions, over land and sea. It is a long-endurance aircraft, meaning it can stay airborne for many hours to observe an area. Elbit will also bring several families of autonomous systems, including the THOR, Magni-X and FireFox-X.
To spot targets, the group will highlight the SPECTRO-12, the latest model in its range of multispectral electro-optical sensors. This equipment combines several types of sensors (daytime cameras and thermal imaging, among others) to detect, identify and track objectives. It can provide the information needed for a surveillance operation as well as for a strike.
Strike capability, a central function of the stand
It is this second function that will occupy a prominent place. Elbit will exhibit the SkyStriker, a loitering munition: an unmanned system that patrols over an area, searches for a target, then attacks it by crashing into it. It is sometimes called a “kamikaze drone,” a common but imprecise term. The PULS multiple rocket launcher will also be present, along with the Lizard equipment, designed for precision laser guidance.
Here are the main systems announced by Elbit for the show:
- Surveillance: Hermes 900 drone, SPECTRO-12 sensor
- Autonomous systems: THOR, Magni-X, FireFox-X
- Strike: SkyStriker loitering munition, PULS rocket launcher, Lizard laser guidance
- Protection: MINI MUSIC infrared countermeasures
- Training and communication: simulators, piloting solutions, onboard communications
The PULS, already familiar to the Royal Armed Forces
One of the systems on display is not a discovery for Rabat. The PULS is already known in Morocco: trials of this rocket launcher by the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) had been reported in March 2025. Its presence in Marrakech will allow the manufacturer to showcase it to the military delegations expected at the show.
We must nonetheless be precise about what the announcement establishes. The statement published on October 6 concerns the equipment on display. It does not mention any new Moroccan order. A trade show is first and foremost a commercial showcase: exhibiting a system does not mean that a contract has been signed, or even that one is under negotiation. We will therefore stick to what is documented, without speculating about possible purchases.
Protecting aircraft, training crews
The program is not limited to weapons. Elbit will present the MINI MUSIC, an infrared countermeasure system designed to protect aircraft and helicopters against heat-seeking missiles. According to the manufacturer, it belongs to a family of systems designed to disrupt the guidance of such missiles. The principle is to blind or deceive the missile’s seeker so that it misses its target.
The company will also offer onboard communication technologies, simulators and pilot training solutions. Its program therefore also covers the means needed to prepare crews and exchange information during missions. This component is less spectacular than the drones or munitions, but it often carries significant weight in defense contracts: equipment is only valuable if those who use it are trained to operate it.
A participation in line with normalization
Elbit will not be alone. The company will meet other Israeli defense firms in Marrakech, including IAI, Rafael, Xtend and UVision. Their participation follows on from the military cooperation launched after the normalization of relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv, and the signing of a defense agreement in November 2021.
This framework explains why the show is becoming a natural venue for these manufacturers. Since relations resumed in December 2020, Morocco has diversified its arms partners, and Israel now holds a visible place among them. For Israeli companies, a show held on a Moroccan military base offers direct access to decision-makers they previously could not reach.
What is at stake for Rabat
On the Moroccan side, several motivations can be put forward, though not all have been officially stated. The FAR have been modernizing their equipment for several years, with a marked interest in drones, surveillance and long-range strike capabilities. These technologies address the need to monitor vast areas and to respond quickly to a variety of threats. Supporters of this cooperation also see it as a way to reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers and to gain access to proven technologies.
This reading is not universally shared. Critics of normalization, notably within Moroccan society, argue that this military rapprochement comes at a political cost, particularly in the regional context marked by the war in Gaza. They point out that Moroccan public opinion remains sensitive to the Palestinian question. Conversely, the authorities defend a defense policy based on national security interests. Both positions coexist, and the visibility of a manufacturer like Elbit on Moroccan soil inevitably fuels the debate.
What to watch next
Several questions remain open as the show concludes. Will contract announcements be made, or will discussions remain at the prospecting stage? Do the systems presented match needs already expressed by the FAR, or is this mainly a commercial demonstration? Finally, does the simultaneous presence of several Israeli groups signal a lasting step-up in this cooperation?
At this stage, no official answer allows us to settle the matter. We will follow the statements of the delegations and any announcements made at the end of the four days of the Marrakech Air Show.
FAQ
When does the Marrakech Air Show take place?
The show runs from October 7 to 10, at the Royal Moroccan Air Force base in Marrakech.
Is this Elbit’s first participation?
Yes. The Israeli manufacturer is taking part in the show for the first time.
Has Morocco ordered new equipment from Elbit?
The announcement published on October 6 concerns the equipment on display and does not mention any new Moroccan order.
What is a loitering munition?
It is an unmanned system that patrols over an area, searches for a target, then attacks it.
