Morocco has partnered with French defense technology company Harmattan AI to develop IRIFI, an autonomous strike drone designed to hit targets up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) away, as the North African kingdom expands its domestic defense manufacturing capabilities and pursues greater control over critical military technologies.

The companies announced the program after signing a letter of intent on Oct. 7 during the Marrakech Air Show. The agreement was signed in the presence of Abdeltif Loudyi, Morocco’s minister delegate for national defense administration; Gen. Mohammed Berrid, inspector general of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces; and senior military and defense officials.

Inside Morocco’s strike drone

IRIFI is designed to conduct long-range missions using autonomous navigation and optical terminal guidance, according to Harmattan AI. Before launch, commanders designate authorized targets and establish mission parameters. Once approved and deployed, the system executes its mission autonomously within the boundaries established by its human operator.

The drone’s navigation system is designed to operate independently of global navigation satellite systems, while optical guidance supports its final approach to a target. The capabilities are intended to allow the aircraft to continue operating in environments where satellite navigation is unavailable or disrupted, including during low-altitude flight.

Harmattan AI says the program is intended to let military personnel concentrate on planning and strategic decisions while the autonomous platform handles mission execution. The company has not disclosed the program’s development cost, production schedule, expected delivery dates or the number of systems Morocco intends to acquire.

Morocco builds domestic defense capacity

A central objective of the agreement is to develop and manufacture critical technological components in Morocco, with much of the work expected to involve Moroccan engineers and technical specialists. The arrangement is designed to strengthen the country’s domestic defense industrial base and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for selected technologies.

The initiative builds on a partnership signed in June 2026 between Harmattan AI, Morocco’s National Defense Administration and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. That agreement included plans to establish a research and development center in Rabat and support the development of a sovereign Moroccan defense technology industry.

AI targets a cost gap

Mouad M’Ghari, Harmattan AI’s chief executive officer, said the program seeks to combine affordability and scalable production with the precision and survivability associated with more sophisticated weapons. He contrasted inexpensive Iranian-designed Shahed drones with advanced cruise missiles such as the U.S. Tomahawk and the British-French Storm Shadow, which are more expensive to manufacture.

“AI-powered autonomy now makes it possible to combine the best of both worlds,” M’Ghari said, describing IRIFI as the company’s answer to that challenge. The system’s actual production costs, performance in operational conditions and ability to withstand air defenses have not been independently established.

Morocco’s defense authorities have presented the project as part of a broader effort to develop the national military industry in line with King Mohammed VI’s strategic directives. The program could expand local technical expertise, although its industrial impact will depend on how much manufacturing, research and intellectual property ultimately remain in the country.

Harmattan AI expands in Morocco

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Paris, Harmattan AI develops autonomous military systems and software. The company reached unicorn status in January 2026 after raising $200 million in a Series B funding round led by Dassault Aviation, valuing the business at about $1.4 billion, according to the supplied company background.

The company operates across several markets, including France, Morocco, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its Moroccan partnership gives it a role in the kingdom’s drive to expand domestic defense production while developing autonomous systems for long-range military operations.