Morocco Acquires Dutch-Built Maritime Drones in €13 Million Naval Deal

Agadir – Morocco has reportedly acquired two Dutch-built unmanned surface vessels as part of a deal valued at approximately €13 million (MAD 139 million), expanding the Royal Moroccan Navy’s maritime surveillance and operational capabilities.

Issued by the Netherlands for military equipment destined for Morocco, the  export licence covers the delivery of an unmanned surface vessel system, including associated sensors, control systems, spare parts, training, and technical support. The equipment is intended for use by the Moroccan Navy in submarine warfare and mine countermeasure missions.

According to the Dutch government statement on the export licence, “a Dutch company has recently obtained an export licence for the export of an unmanned surface vessel, including associated sensors, control systems, spare parts, training and technical support.”

The statement added that “the end user of the goods is the Moroccan Navy for missions related to submarine warfare and mine countermeasures.”

The unmanned maritime systems are designed to operate at sea without a crew onboard, allowing naval forces to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, and specialized maritime operations while reducing risks to personnel. Their integration is expected to strengthen Morocco’s ability to monitor its maritime areas and support missions requiring advanced detection and operational capabilities.

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The Dutch authorities said the export application was assessed under the eight criteria of the European Union’s Common Position on arms exports, including regional stability, security risks, and the intended use of the equipment.

Regarding regional stability, the Netherlands described Morocco as “a stable and strategic security partner in an unstable region,” adding that the country’s geographical position on the southern border of the European Union makes a “stable, reliable and resilient Morocco” important.

The Dutch statement also addressed the issue of Western Sahara, noting that Morocco exercises de facto authority over the territory while its final status remains subject to a United Nations-led political process.

“Although these activities take place in an area whose international status is disputed, they do not in themselves constitute an indication that the goods concerned will be used for aggression against another state or to enforce territorial claims by force,” the statement said.

The Netherlands further assessed that the vessels are primarily intended for defensive maritime missions and that any potential armament would serve only for platform protection and support to submarine and mine countermeasure operations.

“These vessels are primarily designed for defensive maritime tasks,” the statement said, stressing that they are “mission-specific configured and cannot be deployed for other purposes without substantial modifications.”