Manufacturing operations for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 are rapidly expanding at the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) plant located in Berrechid, near Casablanca.
Metlonics Morocco, a local subsidiary of the Indian firm Metlonics, recently confirmed the fabrication of 20 new vehicle hulls at the 20,000-square-metre site.
This milestone underscores the deepening defence partnership between India and Morocco, highlighting a successful push towards localized production of advanced combat vehicles in North Africa.
Inaugurated in September 2025, the Berrechid complex has quickly become a central hub for assembling these infantry combat vehicles for the Royal Moroccan Army.
This latest hull production update builds on the momentum of the initial handover of the first batch of WhAP 8x8s late last year.
As the manufacturing line matures, the facility is steadily increasing its output, integrating more local industrial talent and resources into the assembly process.
The WhAP 8x8 is a highly adaptable, amphibious combat vehicle jointly engineered by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and TASL.
Driven by a powerful 600-horsepower engine and featuring independent suspension, the platform is built for exceptional off-road mobility and high-altitude performance.
Its modular design allows military forces to customize the vehicle for a variety of critical missions, ranging from frontline infantry combat and reconnaissance to command operations and medical evacuations.
Under a major three-year contract, the Moroccan government has ordered a total of 150 of these versatile platforms.
Expected to be the backbone of the Royal Moroccan Army's mechanized infantry, the WhAP fleet will drastically improve the military's operational mobility, troop protection, and overall tactical strength in modern combat scenarios.
The agreement also targets up to 50% local value addition over time, significantly boosting domestic job creation.
A defining characteristic of the Moroccan WhAP variant is its heavy armament, specifically the inclusion of the advanced UT30MK2 unmanned turret from Israel's Elbit Systems.
This sophisticated weapons station houses a 30mm automatic cannon alongside a coaxial machine gun, and is fully capable of launching anti-tank guided missiles.
Paired with cutting-edge electro-optical sensors for precise day and night targeting, the system provides formidable firepower capable of neutralizing both enemy armour and ground troops.
This large-scale manufacturing effort represents a historic breakthrough for India's domestic defence sector.
As the first overseas defence manufacturing facility established by a private Indian company, the Morocco project proves the global competitiveness of Indian-designed military hardware.
It firmly establishes Tata Advanced Systems as a major player in international defence supply chains and paves the way for future equipment exports across the African continent.
