Defense: In Tan-Tan, Morocco and the United States Reach a New Milestone with First Live Fire Drill
Strengthening Security and Military Cooperation: Morocco and the U.S. Launch AMTEC Testing Initiative
The security and military cooperation between Rabat and Washington reaches a new milestone with the organization of a first live-fire exercise in Tan-Tan, part of the activities of the African Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center, known by the acronym AMTEC.
The exercise took place from August 3 to 7, involving the Royal Armed Forces and American military personnel. According to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the aim was to test long-range precision strike capabilities developed by an American defense industry partner in a realistic operational environment.
This operation is part of a U.S. initiative to expand military testing opportunities and provide defense manufacturers with new environments to evaluate their technologies.
On-site, Moroccan and American teams set up a temporary testing zone before conducting a live-fire demonstration. Engineers and technicians from the defense sector also participated in various phases of the experiment.
The efforts focused on communication systems, the mobility of various components of the launch platform, as well as the collection of meteorological and targeting data. The information gathered is intended to improve future tests and support the development of new capabilities.
AMTEC: A Future Regional Hub for Military Innovation
This initial experiment follows an agreement reached just weeks earlier between Morocco and the United States regarding the establishment of AMTEC in Tan-Tan.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on July 13 in Stuttgart by General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces, and Air Force General Dagvin Anderson, commander of AFRICOM.
The project aims to create a multidomain infrastructure centered around several components, including a training area, an academy dedicated to drones, and a space for innovation and experimentation.
The ambition is to allow armed forces, defense manufacturers, and technological partners to test new equipment under conditions similar to those encountered in operational theaters.
Colonel Zouhair El Hamdani, responsible for coordinating the project on the Moroccan side, emphasized that the first live-fire exercise represents a significant step toward realizing AMTEC’s vision.
A Laboratory for Defense Technologies
Beyond the military exercise, the experience in Tan-Tan illustrates a new approach to cooperation between armed forces and the defense industry.
The principle involves aligning the operational needs of military personnel with the capabilities developed by technology companies to reduce the time required between system experimentation and its potential integration into operational capabilities.
The system tested during this demonstration featured a long-range cruise missile, touted as a solution for delivering precision strikes while controlling costs.
The presence of specialized engineers and technicians during the exercise allowed for direct analysis of the system’s performance in a real environment and to identify any necessary adjustments.
Morocco as an Experimentation Platform
For Washington, the development of AMTEC also provides a testing environment complementary to existing infrastructures in the United States. The Tan-Tan site could eventually host exercises involving Moroccan, American, African, and other international forces.
The future center is expected to progressively expand its experimentation scope across several technological domains, including long-range strike capabilities, autonomous systems, wireless communications, and advanced detection technologies.
This direction reinforces Morocco’s positioning as a key military partner for the United States in Africa and as a regional platform capable of hosting training, experimentation, and innovation activities in the defense sector.
Through AMTEC, Rabat and Washington aim to redefine their military cooperation, integrating operational training with technological innovation and defense capability development.
