“Tata Advanced Systems” Delivers the First Morocco-Built WhAP 8×8 Armored Vehicles to the Royal Armed Forces
Indian group Tata Advanced Systems has announced the delivery to the Royal Armed Forces of the first batch of WhAP 8×8 armored vehicles, marking a major step forward in industrial and military cooperation between Morocco and India. The company described this milestone as decisive, highlighting both the strength of its strategic partnership with the Kingdom and the rise of high value added production proudly stamped “Made in Morocco”.
A true technological showcase for Tata Advanced Systems, the WhAP 8×8 is India’s first wheeled amphibious infantry combat vehicle. Designed to meet the demands of modern battlefields, it stands out for its advanced combination of protection, off-road mobility, and firepower. Its design is based on a modular architecture, allowing a high degree of flexibility to adapt to different missions, environments, and operational needs.
Developed in partnership with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the WhAP 8×8 incorporates cutting edge technologies, including an integrated powertrain with automatic transmission and full amphibious capabilities, with flotation and water propulsion. The vehicle has undergone a rigorous series of tests in extreme climatic and geographic conditions to validate its performance against the most demanding international standards.
This first delivery follows the inauguration on September 23 of the Tata Advanced Systems Morocco (TASM) plant in Berrechid. This is the first industrial facility of its kind in the Kingdom, dedicated to the production of the WhAP 8×8 armored vehicles. In its initial phase, production is intended to equip the Royal Armed Forces, before being progressively oriented toward export, particularly to African markets.
Located in the Berrechid industrial zone, the plant is launching operations with a local integration rate of 35 percent, which is expected to reach 50 percent in the medium term. The project is set to create 90 direct jobs and around 250 indirect jobs, contributing to the emergence of a specialized industrial ecosystem, the transfer of skills, and the training of a highly qualified workforce.
With infrastructure meeting the most stringent international standards, Tata Advanced Systems Morocco aims to establish itself as a leading regional platform for the production and export of armored vehicles, further strengthening Morocco’s position as an industrial and strategic hub for defense in Africa.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv
