Morocco boosts naval surveillance with Dutch unmanned vessels

RABAT – Morocco is set to acquire two Dutch unmanned surface vessels to bolster its ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare, counter naval mines and monitor its coastal waters, as Rabat accelerates the integration of autonomous systems into its armed forces.

The €13 million ($14.7 million) sale was approved by the Dutch government and includes the two unmanned vessels, sensors, command-and-control equipment, a mission control station, spare parts, training, technical documentation and support services.

The vessels are designed to operate with a high degree of autonomy and can undertake missions lasting several days, according to information cited in reports on the deal. They will allow Moroccan naval forces to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance and specialised maritime operations without maintaining a crew aboard the vessel.

The Netherlands approved the sale after reviewing favourable assessments from its foreign affairs and foreign trade ministries under the European Union’s eight criteria governing arms exports.

Dutch authorities described Morocco as a “stable and strategic partner in an unstable region”, citing its position along the EU’s southern border and its role in regional security cooperation.

Amsterdam has also said the vessels are intended for defensive operations along Morocco’s two coastlines, on the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The two maritime fronts together extend for more than 1,200 miles.

Mine countermeasures are a particular focus of the acquisition. The Dutch government has assessed Morocco’s existing capabilities in that field as limited, making unmanned systems a way of expanding its ability to identify and deal with underwater hazards while reducing the risks to naval personnel.

The vessels will also strengthen Morocco’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The Royal Navy already has surface ships equipped with sonar and a limited number of helicopters capable of conducting anti-submarine missions, but unmanned platforms offer a different operational model by allowing persistent monitoring without putting crews directly in harm’s way.

They could be deployed around sensitive maritime areas, port approaches and shipping routes, with information collected by their sensors transmitted back to naval command centres.

The purchase comes as navies increasingly combine conventional warships with autonomous surface and underwater systems, using unmanned platforms for surveillance, reconnaissance, mine detection and other missions that can be costly or hazardous to conduct with crewed vessels.

For Morocco, the approach could allow it to expand maritime surveillance over its Atlantic and Mediterranean approaches without relying solely on larger and more expensive ships.

Its location near the Strait of Gibraltar adds strategic importance to the development of such capabilities. The strait is a major maritime link between the Mediterranean and Atlantic and carries significant commercial and military traffic.

Morocco’s maritime security environment also includes the naval capabilities of neighbouring and nearby states. Algeria operates Kilo-class submarines supplied by Russia, while Spain is strengthening its underwater fleet through the introduction of its domestically built S-80 submarine class.

The Dutch sale is not explicitly linked to a particular regional adversary, but it provides Morocco with additional tools to monitor and respond to potential underwater and maritime threats.

The acquisition forms part of a wider effort by Rabat to modernise its military capabilities and diversify its defence partnerships. Morocco has strengthened defence cooperation with the United States and European countries while investing in a domestic defence industrial base and technologies including drones, electronic warfare, surveillance and sensing systems.

Unmanned maritime technology offers several advantages within that strategy, including reduced risks to personnel, longer-duration surveillance and potentially lower operating costs for specialised missions.

The acquisition also comes as Morocco is reported to be considering longer-term options for expanding its submarine capabilities. Médias24 reported in April, citing a financial report by Mirae Asset Securities, that three South Korean submarines could potentially be included in future Moroccan plans.

That report did not indicate that a final procurement contract had been signed, and suggested that 2027 could instead mark the start of consultations or a tendering process.

The Dutch vessels therefore represent a confirmed acquisition, while any future Moroccan submarine purchase remains a potential development rather than an established procurement programme.