Morocco and India's Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) are deepening their defense partnership with plans to develop several new variants of the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), an 8x8 armored vehicle.
The expansion includes versions equipped with powerful cannons and a dedicated medical configuration, enhancing the vehicle's versatility on the battlefield.
This development follows a significant agreement finalized in late 2024, which saw TASL secure a contract to supply the Royal Moroccan Army with 150 WhAP units.
The deal also includes the establishment of a local production facility in Casablanca, operated by Tata Advanced Systems Maroc (TASM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of TASL. This facility will not only build the vehicles for Morocco but is also intended to become a regional export hub for the African market.
The long-term goal of the collaboration, originally forged with India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is to deliver over 400 units in various configurations, progressively increasing local Moroccan manufacturing content from 35% to 50%.
The WhAP itself is a highly adaptable armored vehicle, designed to weigh between 20 and 27 tons depending on its specific configuration. Its modular design allows it to fulfill a variety of roles. The baseline model is equipped with a 30mm cannon and is fully amphibious, meaning it can operate in water.
In 2022, the WhAP demonstrated its superior performance during trials in Morocco, outperforming China's Type-08 armored vehicle. Powered by a 600hp Cummins diesel engine, the WhAP offers excellent mobility across various terrains and provides robust protection against small arms fire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Optional active protection systems can further enhance its survivability.
The Royal Moroccan Army is now planning to significantly expand the WhAP's capabilities.
A variant equipped with a 105mm cannon will provide enhanced firepower for direct combat engagements. An even more powerful 120mm cannon variant is also planned, potentially giving the WhAP the capability to engage heavier armored targets.
In addition, a medical variant will be developed to provide critical battlefield casualty evacuation and medical support. These new versions demonstrate Morocco's commitment to diversifying its armored forces beyond traditional troop transport and reconnaissance.
The source of the 105mm and 120mm cannons has not been officially confirmed. However Morocco currently operates a limited number of older T-72B/BK tanks and other Soviet-era platforms with 125mm guns, as well as a small, mostly non-operational fleet of VT-1A Al Khalid tanks (a Chinese-Pakistani design) also with a 125 mm gun.
Because of this discrepancy in caliber and the age of these systems, it's likely that Morocco will seek external suppliers for the WhAP's new weaponry. Potential suppliers could include European defense companies like John Cockerill, or Indian firms such as DRDO and Bharat Forge, which have experience developing compatible systems.
The medical variant underscores the WhAP's adaptability. It will likely retain the 8x8 chassis for mobility, while incorporating a modified and expanded rear compartment designed for transporting and treating injured personnel. This version will be equipped with medical equipment rather than weaponry. This development aligns with Morocco's broader efforts to modernize its military, replacing older French-supplied armored vehicles with a more versatile and unified platform.
For TASL, the expanded WhAP program builds on the vehicle's initial success in securing the Moroccan contract. The deal, formally announced at the Marrakech Air Show 2024, has already attracted interest from other African nations.
TASL sees the African continent as a key growth market, and the Moroccan facility is strategically positioned to serve as an export base, creating local jobs and facilitating technology transfer, benefitting both Morocco and India.
