Indian Private Company to Manufacture Armored Vehicles Abroad for the First Time

For the first time, an Indian private company will manufacture armored vehicles in Morocco. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a manufacturing plant in Berrechid, Morocco, alongside his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudi. This plant will produce the Wheeled Armored Platform (WHAP), developed in partnership with DRDO. It is the first Indian defense manufacturing plant in Africa.

The plant began operations three months ahead of schedule, and production has already started. WHAP is a modern modular combat platform equipped with advanced mobility and protection features.

Under a contract with the Moroccan government, Tata Advanced Systems will produce the wheeled armored platform 838 (WHAP 838), with initial deliveries planned for next month.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Along with 'Make in India', we are also working on 'Make with Friends' and 'Make for the World'; this center in Morocco is a great example of this vision."

He added that India's goal is to develop strategic autonomy under self-reliance, and this project is expected to generate employment and build a strong local ecosystem of engineers, technicians, and suppliers in Morocco.

Tata Advanced Systems Limited CEO Sukarn Singh said the defense plant in Morocco marks a new chapter in India-Morocco industrial partnership. Initially, the plant will fulfill the needs of the Royal Moroccan Army and later expand to export defense equipment to friendly countries, especially in Africa.