Morocco is deploying a Chinese-manufactured advanced heavy drone, dubbed “Wing Loong II,” high above Laayoune in the Moroccan Sahara, reported Arabic Defense, an online news outlet focusing on Arab military affairs, on Saturday.
Having purchased the drone from China in 2022, Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces now have the largest and most diverse fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles not only in the Western Mediterranean, but in all of Africa.
Morocco is one of the few countries that use the “Wing Loong II” drone, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) aircraft capable of carrying a diverse array of weaponry and sensors.
These drones, manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), are designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and are remotely piloted. They can lift 480 kg, carry bombs and laser-guided missiles, and have a 20-hour operating range and a top speed of 379 km/h.
The specialized military news outlet added that the Kingdom of Morocco actively deploys the “Wing Loong II” in various operations, including counter-terrorism missions, reconnaissance, and precision strikes.
In addition to China-furnished weaponry, Morocco’s military arsenal includes a previous model of the “Wing Loong II” provided by the UAE in 2020, as well as Turkish-made “Bayraktar TB2” drones.