Tata to set up 1st overseas defense plant in Morocco
What's the story
Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), a Tata Group company, is gearing up to set up its first big defense manufacturing facility outside India, and it's happening in Casablanca, Morocco. This new plant will mainly churn out Wheeled Armoured Platforms (WhAP) for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, per The Economic Times. The WhAP is an amphibious infantry combat vehicle that's designed to handle all kinds of terrains, and has already been put to use by the Indian Army at Ladakh border.
Production capacity
Plan to produce 100 combat vehicles annually
The new TASL facility in Morocco is expected to produce 100 combat vehicles every year. It should be up and running within a year, with the first batch of units ready to roll out in about 18 months. This is a big deal as it's the first major greenfield defense plant set up by an Indian company outside of India.
Employment opportunities
TASL's Moroccan venture to create 350 jobs
The TASL facility in Morocco is a game-changer. Not only will it cater to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, but it's also eyeing the broader African market down the line. This exciting venture is set to create around 350 jobs and will see a lot of work being carried out in India. The WhAP, which was developed in collaboration with DRDO, has already been through extensive testing in different African desert conditions before winning Morocco's approval.
Strategic significance
A milestone for India's defense export strategy
Sukaran Singh, CEO and Managing Director of TASL, told ET about how crucial this deal is. He pointed out, "This not only enables TASL to help initiate Morocco's defense ecosystem but also acts as a launch point for TASL into the rest of Africa for select defense systems." Plus, he didn't forget to show gratitude to the Moroccan government for backing this important deal. This partnership is a big win for India's defense export plans as it steps into Africa.