Tata Advanced Systems Ltd will build the defense plant in Casablanca and produce WhAP amphibious armored vehicles for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, according to The Economic Times. These vehicles are already in limited service with the Indian Army and are deployed on the border with China.

The facility, which is expected to be operational within the next 12 months, has the capacity to produce 100 vehicles per year. While the exact cost of the contract remains undisclosed by TASL, the project aims to expand into a wider African market.

According to Tata CEO Sukarana Singh, this contract is strategically important for TASL as it will not only help kick-start Morocco’s defense ecosystem, but also serve as a springboard for TASL in the rest of Africa.

Jointly developed by TASL and the Indian Defence Research and Development Organization, the WhAP underwent rigorous testing in African deserts before being selected by Morocco.