The future Advanced Multidomain Training & Experimentation Center (AMTEC), set to be established in Tan-Tan, represents a groundbreaking milestone in defense collaboration between Morocco and the United States. This strategic initiative will be built on three core pillars: a multidomain training zone, a drone academy, and an innovation and experimentation hub.
At its heart, the multidomain training zone (MDTA) will provide an advanced facility for military forces to prepare for complex operations across varied environments, including full-spectrum electromagnetic warfare scenarios. Meanwhile, the drone academy (MTDA) will focus on training African operators in small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), with a strong emphasis on counterterrorism operations in West Africa. The third component, the innovation center, will serve as a rapid prototyping lab for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and next-generation communications.
General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), highlighted the kingdom’s readiness to bring this vision to life swiftly. «Morocco’s existing infrastructure and skilled workforce position it perfectly to transition from concept to operational reality,» he stated, underscoring the country’s potential as a reliable industrial partner for the US in defense technology.
The project extends beyond military applications, fostering economic and technological growth by involving industrial and academic stakeholders. This collaboration aims to cultivate an innovation ecosystem around defense technologies, positioning AMTEC as a testbed for future wireless and detection technologies while supporting development in remote regions.
General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of AFRICOM, described the initiative as «a major opportunity for both American and African defense industries, as well as academic institutions, to innovate and develop solutions tailored to emerging challenges.»
The first tangible test of this partnership will come with African Lion 2027, an annual exercise held in Morocco. Long recognized as a live laboratory for integrating cutting-edge technologies into operational environments, the exercise will serve as a proof of concept for the future AMTEC facility.
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